Mr. James Billy Croker, 79, of Cedartown, Georgia, passed away on Saturday, February 21, 2015. He was born on August 7, 1935 to the late James Polk Croker and Alice Rice Croker. Billy was a member of the Masonic Blue Lodge and also an active Shriner.

He is survived by his wife, Patricia Nicholson Croker; daughters, Kelly Faires (Chip), Denise Croker (Terri Barton); step daughter, Paige Haney (Richie); step son, Robbie Stephens; sister, Corene Croker Hatch; 6 grandchildren, Kristen Faires, Josh Faires, Catlyn Mullinax, Britt Haney, Jack Haney, Lorena Pelico; and 2 great grandchildren, Kenzlyn Thomas and Cash Currie.

He is preceded in death by his parents, and a daughter Debora Croker Mullinax.

The funeral service for Mr. James Billy Croker will be held on Tuesday February 24, 2015 at the First Baptist Church in Cedartown at 11:00 in the morning. Dr. David Taylor and Rev. Wayne Benefield will officiate the service and Mr. Ronnie Wood, Mrs. Jean Crane, Mr. Ray Merritt, and Mrs. Jennifer Hulsey will be speaking. Interment will follow the service in Northview Cemetery with military rites by the American Legion Brewster Cleveland Post 86 Honor Guard.

The family will receive friends at the First Baptist Church on Monday, February 23, 2015 from 5:00 to 9:00 PM.

Kenneth Shelley, Tommy Mullinax, Beau Gammage, Mike McRae, Frank Burgess, Richie Haney, Jack Haney, and Britt Haney will serve as Pallbearers. Honorary Pallbearers are the L. D. Wheeler Sunday School Class, Past & Present County Commissioners, and the Citizens of Polk County.

Billy Croker was a Cedartown native who has served the citizens of Polk County for decades. After his service in the United States Air Force, Mr. Croker returned to Polk County, where he started the hardware business which he kept for over 40 years. He has served on many boards and has helped improve the development of industry, business, and county services. He was the chairman of Billy Croker Realty and chairman of the Polk County Commission, and was also a Shriner and a Mason. Billy was currently serving the Polk County Board of Commissioners.

Billy was Secretary and past Chair of the Department of Community Affairs, a board member of the North Georgia Regional Commission, a member of the Polk County Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the West Georgia Regional Water Authority. He served as Chair of the County Chief Elected Officials of North Georgia for four years and as the President of the Polk County American Heart Association. He was also a member of the Private Industry Council and the Polk County Council for Children and Families. Mr. Croker was a current board member of the DCA, first appointed in 2000 by Governor Roy Barnes. He was an At-Large Member, and he served as Chairman for three years total: 2004, July 1, 2009-June 30, 2010 under Governor Sonny Perdue with commissioner Mike Beatty, and then the July 2013 to June 2014 term under Governor Nathan Deal with Commissioner Gretchen Corbin. During his service with DCA, he served with three governors and five commissioners. In 2005 Billy was serving as a board member of the Association of County Commissioners of GA, and in that same year became the President of ACCG (Association of County Commissioners of GA). In 2012 he returned to the ACCG board, and was currently serving on that board. Billy was instrumental in framing the Northwest GA Regional Commission out of the former Coosa Valley and North GA Regional Commissions. After helping form NWGA Regional Commission he chaired it for a total of 4 years. And was an active voting member until 2014.

Billy was first appointed to the ACCG Board of Managers in 1999 and served continuously until 2008. He was nominated and elected by his peers to serve as ACCG President for the 2005-2006 term. He completed the Commissioners Training Program and the Certified Commissioners Advanced Program, both voluntary leadership development programs offered by ACCG to help county officials learn more about specific issues in county government as well as emerging trends. In 2008, he was recognized as the recipient of the Emory Greene Leadership Award, the highest honor bestowed on a Georgia county commissioner. This honor is given based on an individual's public service contributions at both the state level and in his or her local community. He came back on the Board of Managers when he returned to office in 2012 and was currently serving in this role. All ACCG Past Presidents that hold office remain on the Board as long as they are serving their local community. While he was ACCG President, the Association launched the Georgia Civic Awareness Program for Students (GCAPS) and the Georgia Trend "Excellence in County Government" awards. Both of these programs continue today. The Georgia Trend program has been modified over the years, but has remained a very high profile way to recognize the work of counties in the state's leading business publication. He also established the Georgia Council for Local Governments, a partnership between ACCG and the Georgia Municipal Association to coordinate common positions on legislative proposals.

Some of Billy's most notable achievements include the construction of the Boy's and Girl's Club in Cedartown, the opening of the Silver Comet Trail, the opening of the Women's Shelter, creation of Police Drug Units in Polk County, construction and expansion of a new Health Department building, construction of new Fire Stations, and development of Comprehensive Land Use Plans for Polk County. In 2006, Billy was featured in Georgia Trend Magazine as one of Georgia's top 100 most influential people.

Billy had fond memories of his time as a Boy Scout in Troop 16, Rockmart and of his adventures at Camp Sidney Dew, which is still in operation today.

He lived in Cedartown with his wife Pat, and they were both members of First Baptist Church of Cedartown. They have five children, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

From 1993 to 2008, Billy Croker was involved with the following:
• SPLOST Referendums approved: 1993, 1998, 2003 and 2008
• Closing of the old US 278 Landfill
• Landfill operations privatized
• Manned Convenience Centers established
• Courthouse Expansion and Renovation
• Administration Building purchased and renovated
• Women's Shelter opened
• Boys & Girls Club building constructed
• Spec Buildings constructed in Cedartown and Rockmart
• Silver Comet Trail opened
• County Jail expanded
• County-wide animal control implemented
• New Animal Control facility constructed
• Emergency management building constructed
• New Georgia State Patrol building constructed
• Executive hangar and new T hangars at airport
• Zoning regulations developed
• New developmental regulations implemented
• Cameras installed in police department vehicles
• Police drug units created
• "Keep Polk Beautiful" established
• New Health Department building constructed and expanded
• New fire stations built at Fish Creek and Lake Creek
• Comprehensive land use plans developed
• Comprehensive solid waste management plan developed
• Partner in Paulding Forest Greenspace project
• Hendrix Road Greenspace/park purchased
• Revamped industrial development authority

Flowers are being accepted, but in lieu of Mr. Croker's involvement with and love for Polk County, donations may be made to the following:
- Our House Battered Women's Shelter
- Boys & Girls Club
- Senior Citizens Center (send donations to Dawn Turner at the Polk County Commissioner's Office)
- Polk County Animal Shelter (send donations "in Memory of Billy Croker")

Messages of condolences can be made to the family by visiting our website and signing the online guestbook at gammagefh.com.

The Olin L. Gammage and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements for Mr. James Billy Croker.