Gary Alan Minshew

Gary Alan Minshew, 64, of Leesburg, passed away May 28 at Willson Hospice House.  Memorial services will be held Saturday, June 1, 2024 at 11:00 am at Philema Road Baptist Church.  Rev. Aaron McCulley will officiate.  The family will receive friends from 10:00 am until 11:00 am Saturday at the church. 

Minshew, who leaves behind a legacy of love and devotion to family and friends, was born Nov. 12, 1959 in Albany to the late Herbert Donald Minshew and the late Wynelle Little Minshew. 

After attending Dougherty High School, he worked on a farm in Baker County for a number of years. On the heels of that, he moved to Panama City, where he managed a night club for eight years, then worked as a crane operator at Cargill Steel, before moving back to Albany, where he worked at Gavin Horticultural/Mark’s Greenhouse for six years. Minshew then moved to Cookville, Tenn., where he was employed with the City of Cookville Parks Maintenance Department and later with Overton County School System doing maintenance. He returned to Albany recently to Gavin Horticultural/Mark’s Greenhouse, where he was employed as a sales representative and truck driver until his passing. 

Not long after moving back to Albany, he met and married his beloved wife Rhonda Coleman Minshew of Leesburg. 

Minshew considered himself a modern-day cowboy after spending years following his hobby as an amateur rodeo bull-rider during the 90s. Even though the sport became brutal to his body, he maintained his love and support for rodeo. Over his lifetime, he also enjoyed surfing, motorcross, and more recently, fishing and Do-It-Yourself projects around the Minshew home. 

Minshew, who came to faith as a teenager, renewed his faith during the past couple years and is a member of Philema Road Baptist Church in Lee County. 

He is the brother of David Wayne Minshew (Yvonne) of Valdosta, Donna Minshew Butler (Paul) of Alpharetta, Nancy Minshew Smith (Thomas) of Birmingham, Ala., and the late Vicki Lynn Minshew. 

Minshew was preceded in death also by his late wife, Sheryl Sinor Minshew of Cookville, Tenn. 

His survivors include his wife Rhonda, his daughters, Stephanie Brooke Minshew of Baconton, and Brittaney Marie Minshew of Albany; his stepdaughters, Melissa Coleman Griffin (Jason) of Leesburg, and Leslie Coleman Eidson (Tyler) of Moultrie, Wendy Sinor Johnson (Matt), and Sarah Sinor Phy (Jason), both of Cookville; and his grandchildren, Lexi Minshew, Taylor Turley, Ryland Cobb, and Luke Parker, and his step-grandchildren, Andrew Knight, Olivia Brown, Everly Griffin, Caroline Eidson, Addie Phy, and Bella Phy. He also leaves behind two nephews, six nieces, and quite a few great-nephews and great-nieces. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to The American Cancer Society, Hope Lodge, 1552 Shoup Ct., Decatur, GA 30033.