William Warnell, Sr.

William Daniel (Danny) Warnell, Sr. passed away Friday, October 23, 2015 in Bakersville, North Carolina. Danny was born October 20, 1942.  He was a graduate of Bryan County High School.  He received an associate’s degree from Georgia Military College where he played basketball.  In 1963-64 he led the state in scoring and was named to the All State Junior College Basketball team.  He was a student at the University of Georgia and received a Bachelor of Science degree from Georgia Southern College.  Danny was a businessman in Bryan County and was actively involved in insurance, banking and farming for many years. He was a State Farm agent in Pembroke, Georgia for thirty seven years and served as a Director and later Vice-President of the Pembroke State Bank. He was the owner operator of Bryan Motor Company and Warnell Chevrolet.  He also served on the Bryan County Industrial Development Authority. Recently he was involved in the development of a North Carolina mountain subdivision, Beech Creek, located in Bakersville where he was residing. He was an expert horseman and competed in NCHA cutting horse competitions for many years.  In 1981 he was ranked fourth in the world in the Non-Professional Class of the NCHA.

He is preceded in death by his parents Brightie Blue Warnell Ham and William Alvin Warnell.

He is survived by his wife Lora Chance Warnell of Bakersville, NC;  three children, William Daniel Warnell, Jr. (Bill) and daughter-in-law Belinda of Athens, GA;  Paige Warnell Quinlan and son-in-law Brant of Orlando, FL;  Tiffany Blue Warnell of Pembroke; seven grandchildren and several cousins.

Visitation will be held Monday from 1:00 to 2:30 P.M at Flanders Morrison Funeral Home.

A graveside service will be held on Monday at 3:00 P.M. at Groveland Cemetery in Groveland.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Buladean Community Foundation at 746 Blevins Branch Rd., Bakersville, NC 28705.

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