Gary L. Maxwell

Gary Lee Maxwell, 78, of Cairo, Georgia, passed away on August 5th, 2025. Gary was born in Cairo on August 21, 1946, the thirteenth of the sixteen children of Josh Maxwell and Emmie Holland Maxwell. He married Sandy Nelson Maxwell on October 14, 1966 and shared nearly 59 years of marriage with his short-legged little woman. Gary and Sandy had three children and gained three more through marriage: Michael Maxwell, married to Ela, Brett Maxwell, married to Dione, and Leslie Maxwell Kaiura, married to Chris. He was Papa to Sierra Maxwell Trollinger, married to Elijah, Andrew Maxwell, and Grayson and Rhys Kaiura. He recently gained four step-grandchildren: Sean (Amanda), Jacob, Paul, and Annika Lentz. Gary was drafted into the Army in 1965, served in the Vietnam War, and was proud to serve his country. He managed Beverly and Turkey Creek Plantations in Cairo for 40 years. His job included land and wildlife management, leading hunting and fishing parties, and everything from carpentry to training dogs to cooking the boss fish for breakfast. One of Gary’s greatest joys in life was being a father and grandfather. He adored all of his children and grandchildren, and looked forward to their visits. He loved going to see his grandchildren in various band, drama, and other school performances. Gary supported his family in every way possible and never hesitated to help anytime the need arose. (Basically, he spoiled them all rotten.) Gary also loved to play jokes and make his family laugh, and to entertain and feed his family and friends with his legendary fried catfish and hush puppies. Known as Shorty to much of his family, Gary is survived by four of his siblings: Dianne Godwin, Mary Dale Miller, Gerald Maxwell, and Larry Maxwell, as well as a veritable multitude of nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents and by his siblings Lorene Bennett, Donald Maxwell, Durell Maxwell, Jean Roberts, Edward Maxwell, Mavis Harrison, Buck Maxwell, Faye Goolsby, Cullen Maxwell, Ronnie Maxwell, and Robert Maxwell. Visitation will take place on Saturday, August 9, 2025, at 1:00 pm at Pine Level Baptist Church, with the memorial service following at 2:00 pm. Jim Weaver and Will Cook will officiate. Gary will be interred in Cairo at Greenwood Cemetery where, as he told us many times, he can look at John Deere tractors for eternity. Willis-Jamerson-Braswell Funeral Home, Pelham