Georgians to pay respects for former Governor George Busbee

ATLANTA, GA (AP) -- Georgians will pay their respects today to the state's first governor to serve two consecutive terms.

The body of former Governor George Busbee will lie in state after arriving at the Capitol about 9:30 a-m today. A public memorial service will follow tomorrow in Atlanta.

Busbee died Friday of an apparent heart attack in Savannah on his way to a vacation. He was 76. Busbee was governor from 1975 to 1983, a Democrat remembered for living up to his campaign slogan, "A workhorse, not a showhorse."

Busbee's casket will be carried into the Capitol Rotunda this morning, when dignitaries including current Governor Perdue pay their respects.

The public will be allowed inside between 11 a-m and 1 p-m. Tomorrow night, the Busbee family will receive mourners at H-M Patterson And Son Funeral Home on Peachtree Road in Atlanta. A public memorial service will be held at 11 a-m tomorrow at Second Ponce de Leon Baptist Church in Atlanta.

Later in the afternoon, Busbee's Duluth church will hold a private funeral. Interment services, also in Duluth, will be open only to family and Parkway Baptist Church members. State flags will remain at half staff until sunset tomorrow.

Busbee's family says that instead of flowers, mourners could donate in Busbee's name to the University of Georgia foundation or the Gwinnett Technical Foundation. Busbee was known for his disarming style and mastery of the state budget.

Associated Press