Herbert Preston Camp, Sr.

Mr. Herbert Preston 'Red" Camp of Cedartown, Georgia passed away October 13, 2024. He was six days from his ninety-eighth birthday. 

He was born in 1926 just across from the Chattahoochee River in Cobb County at his grandfather's River Hill Dairy Farm. His mother gave birth while visiting her parents. He was the only son of Benjamin Franklin Camp and Andrilla Smith Camp. 

Preston grew up in Fulton County attending Center Hill Grammar School and graduated from West Fulton High School. He lettered in football and basketball, along with being selected as an Atlanta Journal Superior Athlete his senior year of high school. He entered the University of Georgia, and he was a walk on football and basketball player for two quarters before entering the US Navy in World War II. He served aboard the USAT Sea Fiddler and on the island of Samar in the Philipines for twenty months before returning to the States. After returning home, he enrolled in the Georgia Military Academy Junior College where he played football. He was awarded the Gold Eagle Medal at commencement for academic excellence. He married his wife, Josephine DeMonia, in 1947 before moving to Athens, Georgia to attend the University of Georgia where he received his BBA degree in marketing. While there, he lettered on UGA's first wrestling team. Later, he studied and received a Bachelor of Law degree from Blackstone School of Law and a Life Insurance degree from the Institute of Insurance Marketing at Southern Methodist University. Preston started his career in teaching and became head football coach and athletic director at Austell High School. He also taught and coached at Marietta High School and Douglas County High School. During these years he coached girl's basketball with much success. He even published a book on girl's basketball. 

He had many hobbies including writing short stories, poems, and songs. In 1954 he went to work as a State Farm insurance agent, but he made the decision to pursue a career with State Farm Insurance Companies as the Agency Manager of Northwest Georgia in 1958. Before his move to this position he was the charter president of the South Cobb Jaycees. He was recognized for outstanding community service, and he was awarded Young Man of The Year in Cobb County. He was also an active member of the local Lions Club. When he joined State Farm's management team he moved to Cedartown, Georgia where he lived from 1958 until his death. He was an active member of the Cedartown First Methodist Church from 1958 until his death. There he served on the Board of Stewards, participated in the Methodist Men's Club, taught Sunday School, and was an usher and trustee. He was very active in the Cedartown Lion's Club and the Cedartown Little League for many years. Preston was also a member of the Polk County Masonic LO-12 Club, the Caledonia Lodge #121, and the Adoniram Chapter #41-Royal Arch Masons. He loved UGA football games, and he attended all home games for many years before continuing to enjoy them by never missing a televised game. 

He and his wife, Josephine, were married for seventy two years before her death in February of 2020. They have three children, seven grandchildren, and fifteen great grandchildren, of whom he was very proud and loved very much. He was an amazing man and had a wonderful life. 

The Smith & Miller Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Mr. Herbert Preston "Red" Camp, Sr.