Life Legacy

Michael Joseph Carrington Executive Director of Forward McDuffie Thomson, GA-Michael Joseph Carrington, 51, died January 7, 2012, after a brief illness. He was the beloved husband of Ginger Upton Carrington. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm., Tuesday, January 10, 2012, at the Thomson First United Methodist Church with Revs. John Barnes, Beverly Casteevens and Daniel Roberts officiating. A graveside service will follow at Westover Cemetery in Augusta, GA. Pallbearers will be nephews Jac Carrington, Tim Hendricks and Greg Joiner, as well as, Will Phillips. Mike was raised in Milledgeville, GA, and was the son of the late Joseph Carrington and the late Doris Carrington. Following graduation in 1978 from Georgia Military Prep School in Milledgeville, he earned an Agricultural Economics degree at The University of Georgia where he played golf and football and participated in the Army ROTC program. He began his military career as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Georgia Army National Guard. Mike served proudly in Operation Desert Storm and was later assigned to Army Intelligence at Fort Huachuca, AZ. Following his medical retirement at the rank of Captain in 1991, he returned to civilian service in banking, finance and insurance. After moving to Thomson, Mike worked with numerous organizations including the American Heart Association, Georgia-Carolina Council of the Boy Scouts, Thomson Bulldogs Athletics, in which he served as the stadium voice of the bulldogs, McDuffie Regional Medical Center, Thomson-McDuffie County Chamber of Commerce, Georgia Municipal Association, Rotary Club, Chairman of the Augusta Regional Development Commission, and many others he tirelessly served in various capacities. Mike also served on the Thomson City Council for many years. He was named the Executive Director of Forward McDuffie in 2007, where he was responsible for bringing countless jobs, businesses and industries to Thomson and McDuffie County. He helped direct the Chamber of Commerce with special events and fund raisers that brought the community together as a whole. He was a member of First United Methodist Church, Thomson, GA, where he sang in the choir, sang in the contemporary praise band, and served in numerous worship areas. Survivors include his wife Virginia (Ginger) Upton Carrington, sons Taylor Michael Carrington and Henry Clayton Rowland, Jr., daughter Anna Elizabeth Carrington, sister Doris Dianne Carrington Harrison and husband Alex of Richmond Hill, GA, and brother Allen Wesley Carrington and wife Cindy of Atlanta, GA, and many nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends from 6 until 9 p.m., Monday, January 9, 2012, at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to University Healthcare Foundation, Upton Family Endowment or East Georgia Easter Seals. The family would like to extend thanks and appreciation to the nurses, doctors and staff of University Hospital and ICU for working so hard for Mike and especially to the third floor Heart and Vascular Nursing Staff for their care and resolve. Friends may call at the residence of Mr. Carrington's family, 920 Cedar Rock Road, Thomson, GA. Beggs Funeral Home, Thomson, Georgia is in charge of arrangements. (706) 595-4100.