By Jordan Beach
Floyd A. and Minnie M. “Pud” Puckett spent most of their lives living and serving the Waleska community. Their legacy will be honored by supporting local students furthering their education in their hometown.
Floyd A. and Minnie M. “Pud” Puckett
Carol Goodreau ’83, Darryl and Norman Puckett lost their father, Floyd, in 2012 and their mother, better known as “Pud,” in January. With the family’s longtime dedication to the Waleska community, the Puckett’s children felt it best to extend their legacy in the form of an annual scholarship for Waleska residents pursuing their degrees at Reinhardt University.
“They were very giving people to the community and to individuals,” Goodreau said of her parents. “Education was important to them, and they always encouraged it. This scholarship is a way to honor them for their love and giving spirit and a way for them to continue to give to the Waleska community.”
Pud Puckett was born in Waleska in 1928 and grew up in both Waleska and Bartow County. She spent 14 years working at the Canton Cotton Mill and later served the R.M. Moore Elementary lunchroom as a cook for 18 years.
In 1929, Floyd Puckett was born in Canton and grew up in Canton and Waleska. Floyd Puckett also worked in the Canton Cotton Mill, working there for 15 years before transitioning to the Georgia Department of Transportation, where he retired.
Floyd and Pud Puckett served their community well, marrying in 1952 and raising their three children in Waleska. The couple volunteered countless hours with the Parent Teacher Association at R.M. Moore, including to raise funds that would build the school’s first gymnasium. Other organizations the Puckett’s volunteered with included the Waleksa Volunteer Fire Department and Cherokee High Band Boosters.
A founding member of the volunteer fire department, Floyd spent 30 years serving as an officer and on the board of directors before being elected to the Waleska City County in 1995 and serving several terms.
As they spent so much of their lives giving back to their community, the Floyd A. and Minnie M. “Pud” Puckett Scholarship will continue to share their giving spirits by investing in the future of local Reinhardt students.
Floyd and Pud Puckett are survived by their children and three grandchildren, Evan Puckett and Zach and Erin Goodreau.
