| State Representative Lauren W. McDonald, III lives in Forsyth County and was elected to serve the citizens of House District 26. The district begins in Windermere and covers the entire border of Lake Lanier to the Forsyth/Dawson County line. Rep. McDonald serves on the Natural Resources; Game, Fish and Parks; and Human Relations and Aging committees. Lauren and his wife, Claire, are partners with Bubba McDonald at McDonald and Son Funeral Home in Cumming, Dahlonega Funeral Home in Dahlonega and Cleveland Funeral Home in Cleveland. They also operate two crematories. Lauren graduated from The McCallie School in Chattanooga and went on to earn his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at The University of Georgia. Lauren also earned an associate's degree in Mortuary Science from Gupton-Jones College. As a student at UGA, Lauren was active in the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He was a trainer during Vince Dooley's last year as a coach UGA's football team and attended night school to get his emergency medical technician (EMT) certification. In his senior year at UGA, he received a Phillip Morris Scholarship which enabled him to work in the Georgia legislative session for then Speaker Tom B. Murphy. Lauren spent 27 years as a firefighter/EMT, including 23 years as a shift worker for the Forsyth County Fire Department. He also spent 16 years serving the citizens of Forsyth County as their coroner. Public safety has always been a big part of his life as he followed both his dad and grandfather as a firefighter. An active member in his community, Lauren has served on boards for the following organizations- Northeast Georgia Boy Scouts; North Georgia Red Cross, Sawnee Civic Center; United Way; Forsyth County Arts Alliance; and Shepherd Spinal Center Junior Committee. He is a charter member and past president of the Lanier/Forsyth Rotary Club, 2002 graduate of Leadership Forsyth, 2004 graduate of Leadership Georgia and 2007 graduate of the Paul Coverdell Leadership Institute. Lauren was appointed by then Governor Sonny Perdue to serve on the Georgia State Funeral Service Board for nine years. Lauren is also active in the Forsyth County Republican Party. Lauren enjoys hunting, flying and being with his family. Lauren and his wife, Claire Hailey McDonald, attend First Redeemer Church in Cumming. They have three children, Wylie McDonald IV, who attends The Citadel; Ridley McDonald, who attends The McCallie School; and daughter, Hailey McDonald |