Mr. Raymond J. Salmon, age 93, of Calhoun Road, Rome died Monday, February 11, 2008 at a local medical center after a brief illness.

Mr. Salmon was born on December 9, 1914 in Floyd County, GA the son of the late H.S. Salmon and Ovell Johnston Salmon and had lived all of his life in Rome and Floyd County and was a member of Fifth Avenue Baptist Church where he served a deacon, sang in the choir and was Sunday School secretary actively. Mr. and Mrs. Salmon were in charge of the Visitation Program for a number of years. He was raised in the Enon Baptist Church as a child and was a graduate of Model High School. Mr. Salmon share cropped with his father while in high school and also worked for the Pepperell Manufacturing Company after school hours. After graduation, Mr. Salmon ran the concession stand in the Lindale Manufacturing Plant. In later years he served in several sales jobs including Wiseman Bakery, Dr. Pepper Bottling Company and as shipping manager for Southeastern Mills. In 1955 he became district manager for the Atlanta Journal Newspaper and later transferred to Rome News Tribune as circulation manager. In 1970, he joined his son, Sherold Salmon in the Rome News Tribune Agency and Sherold Salmon Motor Company. Mr. Salmon loved his family and especially his dog "Buddy" and he also loved listening to all gospel music. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by his wife, Norma Joyce Salmon on August 28, 2006, to whom he was married June 26, 1937 and by a great- grandchild, Dylan Lee Salmon in 1999.

Survivors include one son and daughter-in-law; Raymond Sherold Salmon, Sr. and his wife Jean; one daughter, Karen Gale (Kay) Salmon Shahan; six grandchildren, Regina Salmon and her husband Steve, Raymond "Ramey" Jr. and his wife Carol., David Salmon and his wife Cindy, Misty Shahan Poon and her husband Jason, Haley Shahan and Johnna Shahan; thirteen great-grandchildren, Trey and Taylor Salmon, Jordan and Dawson Salmon, Bradey Mergenthal, Travis and Raegan Henderson, Jacob, Jeremy and Amanda Justice, Beth Justice Hanks and her husband Tim, Lexie Williamson and Spencer Poon.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday afternoon at 2:00 pm at the Heritage Chapel of Jennings Funeral Home with Rev. Ken Hinkley and Rev. Alan Hughes officiating. Mr. J. Parnick Jennings Sr. will open the service with prayer. A eulogy will be given by Joy Lindsey Barrett and David Salmon. Interment will follow at Floyd Memory Gardens with Dr. Ralph Jenkins in charge of the graveside service.

The family will receive friends at the Heritage Chapel of the Jennings Funeral Home tonight (Tuesday) from 6:00 until 8:00 pm. At other hours the family may be contacted at the sons' residence, 2485 Calhoun Road, Rome, GA.

Grandsons and Great-Grandsons will serve as pallbearers and include, Ramey Salmon, David Salmon, Jordan Salmon, Trey Salmon, Brady Mergenthal, Jacob Justice, Travis Henderson, Jason Poon, Jeremy Justice and Steve Justice. Honorary pallbearers will be Warren Lindsey, Bryon Lindsey, Thomas Jackson, B.J. Johnson, Danny Mulkey, Clayton Collier, Gene Mitchell, Ralph Mangum, Pete Peace, Joe Williamon, Clint Payne, Charles Moore, Arthur Ford, John Lanier, Al Mitchell, Jimmy Lawson and John Shahan and employees of AutoMax Rent-A-Car and Sherold Salmon Motor Company.

Please join the family in honoring Mr. Salmon by visiting www.jenningsfuneralhome.com and post your tributes and share your memories.

The Heritage Chapel of Jennings Funeral Home has charge of the services for Mr. Raymond J. Salmon.