Paul Wendell Calhoun, Jr.

Paul Wendell Calhoun, Jr. died Sunday, September 26, 2021 after a sudden illness surrounded by his loving family.

Wendell was born in 1937 in Vidalia, Georgia the oldest son of Ruth Palmer Calhoun and Paul W. Calhoun, Sr. He attended Montgomery County public schools except for a brief period during WWII when his father was stationed in New York City. Wendell excelled academically even from a young age and that success carried over into college. He attended University of Georgia where he was a member of the Kappa Alpha Order and earned a degree in Chemistry followed by University of Georgia Law School, becoming a “DoubleDawg”. In between, he volunteered to join the Army and reached the rank of First Lieutenant with the 101st Airborne Division and subsequently being honorably discharged.

One of his first legal jobs out of law school was working with Pan American Airways in their legal department. During that time, he was living in Florida working at Cape Canaveral but felt he was meant for path one that was outside city, ultimately deciding to come to Toombs County to practice law with the Hon. William Darby in Vidalia, Georgia. It’s here he developed his love for the courtroom and honed his trial skills.  He developed an outstanding reputation as a trial attorney and used those skills around the country representing clients. He was a lawyer’s lawyer. Wendell always made time to mentor younger lawyers when he had the chance and loved nothing more than to talk law and did so quite frequently.

Wendell was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed saltwater fishing, bird hunting and flying. For a period, he held the record for largest sailfish caught in Walker’s Cay, Bahamas. He loved his Georgia Bulldogs and would watch them faithfully. He was a member of the Mt. Vernon Baptist Church.

Wendell was preceded in death by his parents Paul W. Calhoun, Sr and Ruth Palmer Calhoun, his brother Patrick P. Calhoun, his son Christopher A. Calhoun, and his wife, Kathi M. Calhoun. He is survived by his son Charlton Calhoun wife Tracy of Cumming, Ga. and sons Tyler and Conner; son Paul W. Calhoun, III wife Hannah of Soperton, Ga., his niece Catherine Douglas and Christopher Wilson (stepson) along with several nieces, nephews, and grandchildren.

The funeral service will be Friday, October 1st, at 11:00 a.m. at Mt. Vernon Baptist Church with Karl Hay officiating.  Burial will follow in Mt. Vernon Memorial Cemetery with Military Honors.

The family will receive friends at the church on Friday morning from 9:30 until just prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Paul Anderson Youth Home, PO Box 525, Vidalia, GA 30475.

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