Clarence Philip Comer, Iii

Clarence Philip Comer III – scholar, scientist, college professor, historian, writer, actor, genealogist, world traveler, neighborhood activist, supporter of the arts, lover of cats and birds, and true Southern gentleman – died Wednesday, April 24, 2019, at Navicent Health Center in Macon.  He had just celebrated his 69th birthday.

Family and friends may pay their respects 1-3 p.m. Saturday, May 4, at Hart’s Mortuary at Cupola, 6324 Peake Road,Macon, Georgia. No formal service is planned.  The family requests memorial donations to the Historic Macon Foundation, 338 Poplar St., Macon, GA 31201 or Theatre Macon, 438 Cherry St., Macon, GA 31201, in lieu of flowers.

The only child of C. Philip Comer Jr. and Lucille Bloodworth Comer, Phil spent an idyllic childhood dividing his time between his maternal grandparents’ home on Macon’s Anderson Street and his paternal grandparents’ farm just north of Gray.  He never acquired his father’s passion for gardening, so he opted for summer school every year to avoid digging and resetting fence-rows of irises at Sandhill Farm, which he eventually inherited.

Phil had a brilliant, analytical mind, which he put to good use double-majoring in chemistry and mathematics at Mercer University.  Six years later, he earned a master’s in pharmacology and biochemistry at the University of Georgia. While he was a graduate student, he and a partner opened The Last Resort, an Athens bar that hosted some of the biggest names on the singer-songwriter circuit during the 1970s, including Gamble Rogers, Loudon Wainwright III, Maria Muldaur and Jimmy Buffett.

He taught pharmacology at Ferris State University’s School of Pharmacy in Michigan for a year before heading back to school in Kansas City.  In 1981, he graduated from Kansas University Medical Center with a Ph.D. in toxicology and neuroscience, which led to a distinguished career as regulatory toxicologist, specializing in assessing behavioral and central nervous system toxicity. While director of biological sciences for The NutraSweet Company, he conceived and implemented The NutraSweet Fellowship, a nutritional toxicology scholarship for Ph.D. candidates at Howard University in Washington, D.C.

Phil returned to Macon in 1986 with his life partner, Fred Fuller, and they established Graystone Associates Inc. Phil continued his toxicological and regulatory work as a consultant, advising on the registration of pharmaceuticals, tobacco products, food ingredients and supplements. Fred focused on the real estate rental division. They were patrons of the arts, supporting the Macon Symphony, Theatre Macon, the now-gone Georgia Music Hall of Fame and the Tubman Museum. They were actively involved in the restoration of the historic Douglass Theatre. Phil was a tour guide for the Cherry Blossom Festival for many years.

Phil and Fred traveled the world together, mostly through Friendship Force and Sister Cities programs. They visited Australia, Brazil, Denmark, Egypt, England, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Latvia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Mexico, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Syria, Thailand and Taiwan. They also hosted visitors from around the globe.

Phil and Fred had 21 years together before Fred’s death in 1997, but Cupid wasn’t done with Phil.  He had reconnected with Rob Apsley, and an old flame was reignited. The two were united in a civil commitment ceremony on July 3, 1999, using an ancient Christian same-sex union order of service from the Basilian Monastery at the Abby of Grottaferrata in Italy. The party that followed at their home is still remembered as a bash for the ages. Fifteen years later, they were legally wed in Chicago.

Phil’s roots run deep and wide across the region and he thoroughly enjoyed finding “dead relatives” in country churchyards and private family cemeteries throughout Middle Georgia. His love of history was reflected in his devotion to Rose Hill Cemetery, where he led Rose Hill Rambles, and Riverside Cemetery, where his participation in Spirits in October gave him a chance to release the latent thespian in him. He meticulously researched the characters he portrayed, and his work on the notorious Chester Burge led to his being interviewed on Discovery channel’s “A Crime to Remember.” Many who knew the late Andrew Lyndon said Phil nailed the character.

His love of history also led to an eclectic collection of family memorabilia, and his active participation in the Macon Coin Club and the Warner Robins Coin Club.

Phil had a very sly sense of humor, excelled at the double entendre, and simply loved words. He wrote several manuscripts and appreciated writing conferences and workshops.

In addition to his husband, Robert Apsley, Phil is survived by a beautiful tortoise-shell calico cat named Tula; three parakeets and a dove; dozens of cousins; and hundreds of friends.

Please visit www.hartsmort.com to express condolences.

Hart’s at the Cupola, 6324 Peake Road, Macon, Georgia 31210 has charge of arrangements.