Mercer "Babbo" Babb

Mercer Babb, known as Babbo to everyone, 90, of Flatwoods passed away, December 31, 2021 in the Ashland Community Hospice Care Center.

Mr. Babb was born April 26, 1931 in Albany, GA, to the late M.M. and Bertha Babb.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his wife, Shirley Turner Workman Babb; his first wife and mother of his children, Zelma Eulene Kersey Babb; one brother, Clyde M. Babb; a stepson, Tony Workman; and a step granddaughter, Jessie Workman.

Mercer was a member of the First Baptist Church of Russell and a former chemical engineer for AK Steel. He graduated from Georgia Tech with his engineering degree and found his love of the military in the ROTC program there. After graduating he served in the United States Army and the National Guard for many years, finishing his time as a Lieutenant Colonel Mercer R. Babb, Commanding Officer, Co. B 2ND Btn. 19th Special Forces.

In his younger years he enjoyed hunting and fishing and was always an avid Georgia Tech and University of Kentucky Athletics fan. His love of sports spilled over into the family and he would be at any athletic event his grandchildren were involved in. He was known to be rotten to the core and good to the bone.

Surviving are two daughters, Valerie and husband Mike Salow and Karen and husband Ronnie Shoemaker; one stepson, Keith Workman; loving grandchildren, Eric M. and wife Annie Layne Salow, Corey A. Salow and his significant other Sara Powell, Logan R. and his wife Sydney Salow, Amanda M. and husband Kyle Smith, Rebecca N. Shoemaker and wife Kaelyn Brudnok and Adam C. Shoemaker; step grandchildren, John and Eli Workman; and two great-grandchildren, Alayah M. Shoemaker and Samuel W. Smith and their mother, Tonya Cooper.

In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to the Community Hospice Care Center.

Funeral services will be at 1:00 P.M., Wednesday, January 5, 2022 at Carman Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Bellefonte Memorial Gardens.

Visitation will be after 11:00 A.M., Wednesday, at the funeral home.