Alfred M. Long, Sr.

Alfred M. Long, Sr., retired local optician, age 88, entered into eternal rest on Tuesday, January 27, 2009 due to heart attack. Born in Laurens County and reared in Macon, Georgia, Mr. Long was the son of the late Albert Clay and Mintie Ellen (Bush) Long. Service will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday at Maple Avenue United Methodist Church in Marietta with Rev. Mark Nugent officiating. Interment will be in Kennesaw Memorial Park. Mr. Long was Veteran of World War II, in which he served as Bombadier in the 458th Bomb Squadron of the Mighty 8th Army Air Force. He was one of the first enlisted men to be trained on the Norden Bombsite, one of the most top secret weapons of that war, and was assigned to train others just prior to their being sent to England. After his bomb group was also sent to England, he was stationed at the base in Norwich. He participated in the Normandy Invasion and helped to destroy munitions in France and Germany. After flying 15 missions, his crew was assigned to train reinforcements as they arrived in England. Sgt. Long served as Crew Chief and maintained bombsites between missions. Using veteran benefits, he received training in the surfacing, edging, and dispensing departments of Bausch & Lomb in Macon to become an optician. A licensed optician of long standing in the State of Georgia, he helped to organize the Opticians Association of America for over 20 years. He was also a licensed hearing aid dispenser and helped to organize the Georgia Hearing Aid Society, remaining a member for over 30 years. He served on the Georgia State Licensing Board of Opticians for two years and on the Georgia State Licensing Board of Hearing Air Dispensers for over five years, during which he also served on the latter’s Ethics Committee. He founded Long’s Opticians (dba Long’s Eye Care and Hearing Aid Center) in 1974 and did not retire until after 1996. Mr. Long loved his work and his fellow man. Each patient was very special to him and it was his joy to be able to help a person see or hear better. He volunteered his services and goods from his company to help missionaries of the United Methodist Church. Mr. Long was a member of Maple Avenue United Methodist Church, the Pep Club, and B.B. King Sunday School Class. He has served in the past as Usher, Greeter and member of the Administrative Board. Mr. Long is survived by his wife Joyce Tebeau Long; by six sons Richard M. Long, Alfred M. Long, Jr., and Clay E. Long of Marietta; John W. Long of Newnan, Georgia; G. Wayne Long of Collierville, Tennessee; and C. Gregory Long of Austin, Texas; by eleven grandchildren and one great-grandchild; by four sisters Mrs. Ollie Bell Cummings and Mrs. Jacqueline Loyd of Gray, Georgia; Mrs. Sarylan Chitwood of Macon, Georgia; and Mrs. Jeanette Almand of Juneau, Alaska; and by numerous nieces and nephews. Contributions may be made to Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675; or Maple Avenue United Methodist Church, 63 Maple Avenue, Marietta, GA 30064. Family will receive friends 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Thursday at Mayes Ward-Dobbins Funeral Home and Crematory. www.mayeswarddobbins.com

Alfred M. Long, Sr.

January 28, 2009