William Stell Huie

William Stell Huie, age 93, of Highlands, NC and formerly of Atlanta, GA, died peacefully in his sleep on the 4th day of November 2024. Stell was born in College Park, GA, the son of William McEver Huie and Nan Stell Huie.

He is survived by his daughters, Helen Huie Ashenfelter (John), Sarah Huie Coleman (Joseph), his grandson William Andrew Ashenfelter (Margaret), his two great-grandchildren, his grandson, David Huie Ashenfelter, his sister, Barbara Huie Hinds and his brother, Jerry Huie. He was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Madaline Johnson Huie.

Stell practiced law in Atlanta for 50 years after serving in the Army Judge Advocate Corps during the Korean War. He attended Emory University and Emory University School of Law. He served as President of the Emory student body, President of the Emory Glee Club, President of the Emory Alumni Association, and President of the Emory Board of Visitors. He was also recognized on the occasion of Emory Law School’s 100th anniversary as one of the 100 outstanding graduates of the law school.

Stell was most proud of his service as General Counsel of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority [MARTA]. His representation spanned 18 years, “from the time it was a gleam in the planners’ eyes, until trains were running.” Other representative clients were the Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church USA, the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, the Georgia Bankers Association, and American Business Products, Inc. [NYSE].

He was active in his communities and in his profession: President of the Atlanta Bar Association and President of The State Bar of Georgia; President of the Old Warhorse Lawyers Club and member of the Judicial Nominating Committee of the State of Georgia; Vice President of the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce; Elder, Trinity Presbyterian Church; President of the State YMCA of Georgia; Trustee, The Westminster Schools. In Highlands, he served as Chair of the Community Foundation; Member, Board of Governors of Highlands Country Club; Trustee of the Board of the Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School in North Georgia; Chair, the Music Committee of the Presbyterian Church, and Member of the Board of the Performing Arts Center. Stell was also a leader in getting a legal aid office established in Highlands-Cashiers by Pisgah Legal Services, Asheville.

Nationally, Stell served on the Board of the White House Preservation Trust Fund; President of the National Conference of Bar Presidents; Delegate at Large in the House of Delegates of the American Bar Association; Chair of the Legal Affairs Committee of the American Public Transit Association, and a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation.

Stell loved music, hunting, and fishing. He studied voice, and after retirement, shared his talents in church, recitals, and musical productions. He was an excellent shot, and particularly enjoyed quail hunting with friends in South Georgia. There were also special shooting trips to Scotland and Ireland. Best of all, he was an avid fly fisherman and loved the streams around his retirement home in Western North Carolina. He also loved to travel to fish: Alaska, British Columbia, Labrador, Ireland, Scotland, many states of the USA, and especially the Patagonia area of Argentina where he fished more than 20 times, always organizing a trip with friends to enjoy the unique characteristics of fishing there.

A celebration of life will be held on November 18, 2024, at 11:00 am at the First Presbyterian Church of Highlands, 471 Main Street, Highlands, NC 28741.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Rabun Gap Nacoochee School Stell Huie Scholarship, 339 Nacoochee Drive, Rabun Gap, GA 30568 https://www.rabungap.org/support/make-a-gift

First Presbyterian Church of Highlands for the Bowman Endowment, PO Box 548, Highlands, NC 28741 https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=33QSWU5WA53YS

Pisgah Legal Services, PO Box 2276, Asheville, NC 28802 pisgahlegal.org

Online condolences can be left at www.bryantgrantfuneralhome.com

Bryant-Grant Funeral Home & Crematory is honored to serve the Huie family.