Obituary of Larry J. Messer

Funeral Services for Larry J. Messer, 72, of Wedowee will be held Wednesday, at 2pm at Ava United Methodist Church with Rev. Paul Messer and Dr. Dan Strain officiating. Burial will follow at the Ava United Methodist Church cemetery. The family will receive friends at Benefield Funeral home from 5-8 PM on Tuesday, August 23rd. Larry passed away on Monday August 22nd at Wedowee Hospital. Larry was born on January 28, 1944, in Roanoke, Alabama, to Henderson and Kathleen Anderson Messer of Woodland. Larry attended Woodland High School where he was a member of the Varsity Football and Basketball teams. He graduated in 1961 as Salutatorian and went on to attend his beloved Auburn University. Larry graduated in 1966 with honors from the Auburn University College of Pharmacy. Upon completion of his degree, he worked for Hood Drug in Langdale, Alabama. In 1971 he returned to Randolph County and served as Hospital Administrator for Wedowee Hospital. In 1977 Larry and his business partner, Harold Harmon opened H&M Drugs. In 1984 Larry purchased Wedowee Drug Company and operated it until 1994 when he joined the Harco (now Rite Aid) team. Larry worked in numerous Rite Aid stores in the Anniston, Oxford, and Coldwater areas as well as Roanoke until his retirement in 2012. Even though his career choice was pharmacy, his true passion was raising Black Angus cattle and gardening. This year Larry celebrated his 50th year as a member of the Alabama Board of Pharmacists. He was a member of the Wedowee Kiwanis Club for 42 years. He was also a member of the Randolph County Cattleman’s Association, Alabama Pharmaceutical Association, a member of Sawyer Masonic Lodge # 93 F&AM, and the Auburn Alumni Association. Larry also served on numerous boards and committees throughout his life. Larry is survived by his wife of 47 years, Martha Cotter Messer of Wedowee; his son, Bill Messer (wife, Erin) of Smyrna, Ga; his daughter, Beth Messer Bailey (husband, Danny) of Wedowee; 4 grandsons, Hagan and Holden Bailey of Wedowee and Will and Ben Messer of Smyrna; and one sister-in-law, Gerrae Messer of Maryville, TN. Larry was preceded in death by his parents, W. Henderson and Kathleen Anderson Messer of Woodland and one brother, Tim Messer of Maryville, TN. Pallbearers will be the Woodland High School Class of 1961 and Honorary Pallbearers will be members of the Wedowee Kiwanis Club Memorials may be floral or in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Ava United Methodist Church or to the Wedowee Kiwanis Club to provide educational and health support for the children of Randolph County.