Obituary and funeral service: Richard Sells, 78, of Social Circle

Richard Sells was born on Oct. 10, 1947 to John Elmer Sells and Lunie Adeline Etheridge Sells at Joan Glancy Hospital in Duluth, Georgia. He attended Lawrenceville First Baptist from the cradle roll through college. At the age of 12, Richard became a Christian and later taught Sunday School there. After graduating from Central Gwinnett High School, he attended University of Georgia, where he studied fine art and met his lovely wife Rosemarie Williams Sells. They were married on June 8, 1969, approximately six months before Richard joined the Air Force. A

fter training in aerial reconnaissance lab work, he and Rosemarie lived in Newport News, Virginia, where Richard was assigned to Langley Air Force Base. While there, they attended First Baptist Newport News where Richard was ordained as a deacon in 1972. Their first child Emily Blythe Sells, was born on November 29, 1972, at Riverside Hospital in Newport News. His next assignment was Udorn Air Force Base in Thailand during the Vietnam War. After the military, Richard and Rosemarie worked in public schools, and both earned master’s degrees in education. Richard went on to earn his specialist degree in educational administration from Georgia State University in 1989.

Richard was a member of the Monroe Art Guild around 2014 and later became president of the guild. Richard also served as a Gideon speaker for several years. Richard and Rosemarie’s second child, David Andrew Sells, was born on September 18, 1981, at Monroe Hospital. Following his retirement from public school administration in 2000, Richard accepted an agent’s position with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. After retiring from the GBI in 2010, Richard worked the next nine years as an English tutor at Georgia State University’s Perimeter location. Richard also worked as a professional boxing judge for the Georgia Boxing Commission for 15 years and as a trainer for boxing judges during the last four years. Both Richard and Rosemarie have enjoyed working in the arts and creating artwork at their lake house on Hard Labor Creek Reservoir. Richard worked in acrylics and metal sculpture. Richard also taught Sunday School at Monroe First Baptist, and he played bass guitar in the early contemporary service.

Richard is survived by his wife of 56 years, Rosemarie; daughter Emily (Chester) Clegg of Monroe; son David (Kate) of Bishop; eight grandchildren; and two great- grandchildren.

A Funeral Service will be on held on Sunday, May 17, 2026 at 3 pm at Monroe First Baptist Church with a visitation at 1:30 pm prior to the service with Pastor Todd Ware officiating. There will be a private family graveside at Social Circle Cemetery immediately following the service. Arrangements by Tim Stewart Funeral Home, 209 South Hammond Dr, Monroe, GA 30655. 770-267-2594. Please sign the online guest registry at www.stewartfh.com.

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Reposted courtesy of Tim Stewart Funeral Home.