Mr. John Ernest LeGrande, 87, of 659 Jones Avenue, Rockmart, died Wednesday, July 4, 2001 in a Rome hospital. He was born August 1, 1913 in Haralson County, was owner and operator of Piedmont Furniture. He was a member since 1931 and a Deacon of Faiview Baptist Church and served as choir director for many years. He was Mayor of Rockmart 1954-56 and 1966-68 and was elected to the Rockmart Hall of Fame by the Polk County Chamber of Commerce in 1983. He was a Charter member of First Federal Savings & Loan, now Regions Bank, Board of Directors, was a member of the Rockmart Masonic Lodge F & AM No. 97 and a charter member of Rockmart Order of the Eartern Star Chapter No. 321. He was preceded in death by: parents, John W. and Margie Hutcheson LeGrande; three brothers, Clarence LeGrande, Emory LeGrande and Roscoe LeGrande; three sister, Ollie Williamson, Othie Wyatt, Ludie Wright. Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Sally Mae Leatherwood LeGrande of Rockmart; son and daughter-in-law, Jay and Golda LeGrande of Rockmart; daughter and son-in-law, Barbara and Charles Pinkard of Rockmart; four grandchildren, Mrs. Judy Renshaw of Rockmart, Chuck Pinkard of Cumming, Mrs. Janet Simmons, Mrs. Susan Crawford, both of Rockmart; six great-grandchildren. The funeral service was held at 2 p.m. Friday, July 6 from Fairview Baptist Church with Rev. Larry Davis and Rev. Tony Shubert officiating. Interment was in Rose Hill Cemetery. Pallbearers: Rick Crawford, Bobby Renshaw, Chuck Pinkard, Gary Simmons, Greg Gober Davis Doehla. Great grandsons, Charlie Pinkard and Mitchell Simmons served as honorary pallbearers. Freeman Harris Funeral Home had charge of arrangements. (The Rockmart Journal, July 11, 2001)