Ralph B. Maxwell, Jr.

Ralph B. Maxwell, Jr., 74, died at his home in Lexington, GA on May 7, 2026 from complications of heart and vascular disease.

An influential figure in Oglethorpe County for decades, Ralph wrote about everything from law enforcement to county government to educational affairs and breaking news as Editor of the Oglethorpe Echo. He sometimes seemed a part of the landscape, camera on his shoulder, a constant presence at civic, sports and other news-worthy events . . . as well as those events not so news-worthy, but important to the participants.

Ralph served on the Lexington City Council for nearly 15 years during which time the city greatly expanded its water service, connected to the Crawford sewer system and developed Meson Park. And, while he enjoyed a highly visible profile by virtue of his position at the Echo, Ralph’s characteristic generosity and community-minded contributions were frequently conducted behind the scenes. He provided financial support for projects initiated by ARTS! Oglethorpe, helping it develop into a local cultural icon. His multifaceted “boostering” of local schools earned him eventual induction into the OCHS Sports Hall of Fame in the category of “supporter.” For a number of years Ralph bought the groceries, prepared the food and presided over game-time dinners for the press box crew at OCHS home football games. Attendees generally included game referees, scouts from other teams and visiting school officials. The ensuing collegiality enhanced the county’s reputation across Northeast Georgia.

Raised as the son of a weekly newspaper editor before computer technology revolutionized the printing process, Ralph began early setting headlines and grocery ads by hand, one letter at a time. During college he had a summer photography internship with the wire service UPI which dispersed his pictures of Atlanta Braves games to outlets across the country. An assignment to capture the early ‘70s “hippie scene” in Atlanta became a two-page photo spread in the Washington Post. He issued his first edition as Editor of the Oconee Enterprise in 1974 after graduating from Journalism School at UGA. In 1980, he returned to Lexington to gradually take over from his father at the Echo and labored there for decades, serving as Editor and Publisher himself most of that time. He retired in 2021 following a stroke which denied him the use of his left leg and left hand. He had been deaf in his left ear since contracting measles in childhood (pre-vaccinations).

Born September 8, 1951 at the U.S. Navy hospital in Newport, R.I. where his father was stationed as an engineering school instructor, Ralph moved with his family to Crawford, GA at the age of four. In his youth he was an outstanding three-sport athlete, leading Oglethorpe County to the 1968 Region 8B football championship and a 10-2 season (his exploits abbreviated by a dislocated shoulder). Despite being the fastest in the neighborhood during grade school, buddies had to drag him away from reading books to play in backyard games. His reading-induced vocabulary led to high scores on the SAT exam which attracted Ivy League colleges interested in his football prowess. He typically tossed out recruiting solicitations without opening them. He “lived” at least one of the adventures he read about, ending a backpacking trip through Belgium, France and Spain by literally running with the bulls in Pamplano per Ernest Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises.

Ralph was a faithful and loving supporter of his grandchildren and their numerous activities. He was also a businessman with an amazing capacity to remember phone numbers, addresses and details, while working routine math problems in his head. He owned and leased out a half-dozen residential and business properties and served as corporate President of Greater Georgia Printers, Inc.

In recent years, Ralph had become an every-Saturday (ok, Friday, too) mainstay at the Rowdy Rooster restaurant in Lexington, where he held court while seated at the head of “his” table in a chair with his name on it. His legion of friends there and throughout the county will greatly miss his easy going nature and sharp intellectual curiosity.

Ralph is predeceased by his parents, Ralph Sr. and Clyde Maxwell. He is survived by his wife, Patsy Maxwell, step-children Kristina (Johnny) Turner and Kathryn O’Kain; his grandchildren Jake, Elin and Georgia Turner; sister Lynda (Jerry) Nielsen, brothers Scott (Jeanne) Maxwell and William (Faith) Maxwell. He was a favorite of his nieces and nephews even though they are spread out across the country: Greg (Monica) Nielsen, Katie (Alex) Schmit, Brad (Mary Beth) Nielsen, Jennifer Maxwell, Lindsey (Drew) Robinson, Andrew (Samantha) Maxwell, Taylor Maxwell, Amelia Maxwell and Will (Jess) Maxwell, plus seven grand-nieces and nephews.

Ralph chose to be cremated, and according to his wishes, there will be no immediate funeral service. Those wishing to commemorate Ralph’s life are encouraged to make a memorial contribution to an organization that promotes the greater good of Oglethorpe County such as the Oglethorpe Echo Legacy, Inc. or the OCHS Athletic Booster Club.

Arrangements by Lord & Stephens Funeral Homes, East.