Mr. Cantrell was born in Harris County, Georgia, on Tuesday, October 12, 1915, the son of the late Melindy McCann and George Washington Cantrell. He was a member or Thorington Road Baptist Church, Montgomery, Alabama. Mr. Cantrell retired from the Alabama State Department of Industrial Relations with 31 years of service. Before joining the state work force, he spent a good part of his time both playing and coach football. Mr. Cantrell won a football scholarship to Auburn University where he lettered three years in a row, and played on the 1937 Orange Bowl Team which beat Michigan 6-0. He graduated from Auburn in 1940 with a bachelor’s degree in textile engineering and coached at Hayneville High School and Opelika High School through 1944.

 

Mr. Cantrell was preceded in death by his wife, Willie Mae, and is survived by his niece and nephew, Phyllis and Wayne Stoddard of Wetumpka, Alabama; great nieces and nephews, Susan and Tim Knight of Montgomery, Alabama and Ginnie and Beni Kunz of Switzerland; and several great nieces and nephews.

 

Funeral services for Mr. Cantrell will be held Wednesday, April 4, 2012, at 2:00 PM EDT from the graveside in Oakwood Cemetery, Lanett. Reverend Mark McGee will officiate. The family will greet friends 1 hour prior to the service at the graveside.

 

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make contributions to your favorite charity.