Luther Welsh

Coach Luther L. Welsh Thomson High School Head Coach- Retired Thomson, GA- Coach Luther L. Welsh, 79, died July 14, 2011 after a battle with cancer. He was the beloved husband of the late Anne Reed Welsh. Coach Welsh was raised on a farm outside Bishopville, SC and was the son of the late L. D. Welsh, Jr. and the late Dorothy Josey Welsh. Following graduation in 1951 from Mayesville-Riverside High School, he earned a degree at Presbyterian College. He began his teaching and coaching career in Warrenton in 1955 and then served in the U. S. Army. He returned to coaching in 1958 at Maywood High School in South Carolina and then served as an assistant coach at Sumter (SC) High School, Cordele High School, and Albany High School. He resumed his head coaching career at Dougherty County High School from 1968 until 1982. After serving as an assistant coach at Warner Robins for one year, he served as Head Coach at Thomson High School, Camden County High School, Greene-Taliaferro High School, and Screven County High School, before returning to Thomson in 1999. He retired as Head Coach in Thomson after the 2010 season. Coach Welsh finished his career with a record of 333-181-6. He won 13 region titles 11 of which were in Thomson. His 3 state titles in 1984, 1985, and 2002 were all in Thomson. Coach Welsh ranks fourth all time in victories among coaches in the state of Georgia. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, July 16, 2011 at the Thomson High School Auditorium with Revs. John Barnes and Bernard Grant officiating. An additional funeral service will be held at 4:00 p.m., Saturday, July 16, 2011 at Mt. Zion Presbyterian Church, St. Charles, SC with Rev. Richard Smith officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Survivors include his daughters, Andrea Welsh Gay of Thomson, GA, Lucia Welsh Coker of Turbeville, SC; grandchildren, Taylor Gay, Tanner Gay, Reed Coker, Zac Coker; sister, Carole Welsh Barrineau of Lake City, SC; brothers, Josey D. Welsh and wife, Pat of Belvedere, SC and Thomas S. Welsh and wife, Judy of Harbor Island, SC. Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church, Thomson, Georgia, Mt. Zion Presbyterian Church in St. Charles, SC or to the Thomson Athletic Booster Club, Thomson, GA. The family will receive friends from 6 until 9 p.m., Friday, July 15, 2011 at the funeral home. Please visit BeggsFuneralHome.com for additional obituary information or to sign the family's personal guest book. Beggs Funeral Home, 799 Cobbham Road, NE, Thomson, Georgia 706/595-4100.