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Page 6 — Wednesday, March 2, 2022 The True Citizen
John Thomas Hight Jr.
John Thomas Hight Jr. passed away quietly February 22 at
the age of 96 in Huntsville, Alabama where he lived for the
past 6 years. Johnny was born
in Hancock County to John and
Willie Hight but also lived in
Augusta, Atlanta, and Sardis,
Georgia. He was a longtime
city councilman in Sardis, avid
fisherman and hunter, antique
worker, bio-waste collector, gun
smith, auto parts manager, elec
trical helper, tomato gardening
expert, dune buggy racer, knife
maker, horse trader, card shark,
camellia horticulturist, and grass
cutter extraordinaire. Some of
these may or may not be true, but
who knows with Johnny! We will all miss his clowning and
jokes-if you are reading this, you may very well have been
the target of one of his jokes.
He is preceded in death by his parents and his wife of 49
years, Julia Ellison Hight. He is survived by two sisters, Mary
Evelyn Devereaux and Peggye Sewell; his daughter Jennifer
Elam and son-in-law Gary Elam; two grandsons, Jesse (Krista)
and Cason (Emily) as well as five great grandchildren, Jack,
Margot, Benjamin, Evelyn and Cameron.
Memorial services will be announced at a later date.
Santonia Jay “Tony” Kelly
Mr. Santonia Jay “Tony” Kelly, age 51, of Augusta, Geor
gia, entered into eternal rest on Thursday, February 17, 2022.
Graveside Services will be held
Saturday, March 5,2022,1:30 p.m.
at Beech Branch Baptist Church
Cemetery, 7586 GA-24, Sardis,
Georgia 30456.
Visitation for the family will be
held Friday, March 4, 2022 from
4:00-5:00 p.m. and public viewing
will be held Friday, March 4, 2022
from 6:00-7:00 p.m. at Phinazee
and Son Funeral Home, 404 West
8th Street, Waynesboro, GA30830.
Mr. Kelly will lie in state from
12:30-1:30 p.m. prior to the service
for viewing.
Phinazee and Son Funeral Home will be in charge of the ser
vices for Mr. Santonia Jay “Tony” Kelly.
Due to the pandemic, masks will be
required and social distancing will be
enforced at the funeral home and the
graveside service. We ask that you adhere
to the CDC guidelines.
Luke Bunyon
Mr. Luke Bunyon of Waynesboro, Geor
gia, entered into eternal rest on Monday,
February 28, 2022. Funeral services will
be announced at a later date.
Tyrone Mann
Mr. Tyrone Mann of Horn Lake, Missis
sippi, entered into eternal rest on Tuesday,
March 1, 2022. Funeral services will be
announced at a later date.
tK— ,
PHINAZBE tc SON
P
E’HINA/.H.r: A SON
P
.uawsL
E’HINA/.KE-: ti St)N
March 3,1988 - October 24,2003
Wishing you were here today, for even just a while.
So I could say Happy Birthday and see your loving smile.
The only gifts today will be the sweet memories you left behind
of laughter, joy and happiness that echo on in my mind.
I'll gaze upon pictures, I'll think of you with love
And hope you're doing fine in heaven up above.
May our friends and family in heaven
hold you closely and sing you a song
And I'll be sending a million hugs and
kisses today and all year long.
(fVlama. < 3^>haake, < 3^>hiAtat,
and
OBITUARIES
Fred Eskew
Waynesboro, Ga. Fred Eskew, age 81, died on Thursday,
February 24,2022 at his residence.
Fred was born in Washington County, Georgia on Septem
ber 11, 1940, to the late Rufus and Louise Eskew. He lived
most of his life in Burke County, and was a farmer the major
ity of his life. Fred loved nothing more than being outdoors.
His love for the outdoors increased more and more each year,
found most often with his annual vegetable garden, which
he shared with family and friends. He also enjoyed hunting
and fishing.
Fred is preceded in death by his brothers, Carlton, Paul,
Roy, and Julian Eskew all of Waynesboro.
He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Sheila Eskew of
Waynesboro, a daughter, Jessica Eskew of Waynesboro, a
sister, Dorothy Davis of Savannah, a brother, Charles (Jackie)
Eskew of Waynesboro, a special nephew Junior Neidlinger
of Waynesboro, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Graveside services will be held at 1:00 pm, Wed. March
2nd, 2022, at Burke Memorial Gardens with the Revs. Wes
Lawson and Bruce Allen officiating. There will be visitation
1 hour prior to the service at the
Mausoleum at Burke Memorial
Gardens.
Burke Memorial Funeral Home is
in charge of arrangements.
MORE OBITUARIES ON 8
CHANCE &HYDRICK
Reuben Chance* Phil Hydrick
Locally Owned & Operated
706.790.8567
www. cha lie tmul h yd r i c k. com
Kute Memorial Fwal Home
“A Family Tradition
Since 1919”
Phinazee and Son
Funeral Home
Funeral CMrecnx' 1 Etnlwlmer
KefccyM. Phinazee
Manager Crystal M. Preston
Funeral DmiorEmlHlmer
Almari K. Phinazee
UitlNAZtb Si son
404 W Rih St.
WAynobw.CAJOeX
www.riiktUbv^jrtfli.nji-n
Burke Memorial Funeral Home
www.burkememoriaLcom
% Home o/ Dependable Serifice”
84Z Liberty Street, Waynesboro, GA
Family owTied ^ operated
Jane and George DeLoach
706-833-9867 or 706-551-5100
r -—^ DeLoach ~ 1 —■.
McKerley-Prescott
FUNERAL HONE
N AND CREMATION SERVICE y
220 East 6th Street ■ P.0. Box 595
Waynesboro, GA 30830
706-554-3531
www.deloachfunerolhomes.com
Val Pfc&cottj Steve Sir me ns, Jason MtKerley
C.W. “Billy” Hopper, Jr.
Billy Hopper passed away on Friday, Feb. 25, 2022. He
was a proud native of Waynesboro, Burke County, Georgia.
He was born on Oct. 14, 1936 and was the only child of
C.W. Hopper, Sr. and Mamie Harrell Hopper. Mr. Hopper
graduated from Waynesboro High School in 1954 and Da
vidson College in 1958.
He married the true love of his life, Marianne Bevan, on
June 17,1958. Following the fulfillment of his military reserve
obligations at the Pentagon, Billy returned to Burke County
where he served as Waynesboro City Manager for eight years
followed by 28 years as the Burke County Administrator. His
vocational pursuits were always guided by his love of Burke
County and its people.
Billy Hopper will be remembered for many reasons. He was
a humble, loyal, temperate, and consistent man. He believed
in being humble in success and gracious in failings. He lived
virtually his entire life in one community with one spouse
because he had extraordinary loyalty and love towards both.
He was slow to anger, but had a competitive drive. His con
sistency was predictable. On Sunday mornings for 80 plus
years, he was going to be at church.
He had a passion for the woods, fields, and waterways of
his native area. If you have not shot doves with him, it was
because you never invited him. He had very few vices, but he
was an excellent wing shot and was proficient at concealing
the number of birds in his game bag. His health prevented
him from hunting in his later years so the statute of limita
tions has passed.
Billy had a fondness for athletics and participated as a player
and a coach. He was a proud Waynesboro Purple Hurricane.
He understood the lessons to be learned by youth from ath
letic participation and he coached two generations of little
league baseball players. He was an excellent tennis player and
enjoyed tennis until his final retirement following a muscle
tear after being coaxed out of retirement by his daughter. He
would warm up with a Pall Mall cigarette in his mouth while
saying that it kept the gnats away. He quit this other vice (Pall
Malls) when his first grandchild was bom.
He was an avid follower of the Atlanta Braves, the Georgia
Bulldogs, and Davidson Wildcat basketball. If the Braves
played late on the West Coast, his phone answer would be
“Don’t tell me about last night’s Braves’ game” instead of
“Hello.” With the Braves winning its first World Series in 26
years and Georgia football winning its first National Cham
pionship in 41 years, he went out on top.
Billy was a man of great faith. He attended First Presbyte
rian Church of Waynesboro for his whole life. He served the
church in every conceivable capacity and served as mling
elder for more than half his life. Until recently, you knew
where to find him on Sunday morning.
While his death is difficult, his family knows where he now
resides eternally. He is now reunited with deceased family and
friends. One day, his loved ones will see him again. Thanks
be to God!
Billy is survived by his wife of 63 years, Marianne Be
van Hopper. He is also survived by three children and their
spouses: Claude William “Bill” Hopper, III (Donna); Nell
Hopper Dixon (Herbie); and John Frederick “Rick” Hopper
(Lisa). In addition to his children, he is survived by nine
grandchildren: Bevan Hopper, McGee Hopper Berding (Sam),
Whitney Dixon Zeagler (Worth), Will Dixon (Brooke), Abby
Scott, Braxton Hopper, Carson
Hopper, Avery Chance, and
Emme Chance. He is further
survived by his brother-in-law,
Frank Bevan (Ann), and numer
ous cousins.
The family received friends
and family at the fellowship hall
of First Presbyterian Church of
Waynesboro at 1 p.m. on Mon
day, Feb. 28. A celebration of
life followed at 3 p.m. at Burke
Memorial Gardens. The Rever
ends Tre Smith and Jim Knight
officiated.
In lieu of flowers, memorials
may be made to The First Pres
byterian Church of Waynesboro,
810 Myrick Street, Waynes
boro, GA 30830 or a charity of
your choice.
Burke Memorial Funeral
Home is in charge of the ar
rangements.
Ouvan B, ldinsofl
Ovmer
Kurioe Memorial Fwal Home
Ch avaus B.
Funeral r>
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Notary Servire
Available
685 Waters Street, Waynesboro, GA - 706*554-7843 ■ Fax: 706-551-5008