Walter "George" Pope

Walter “George” Pope

Wrens, GA  –              Walter “George” Pope, 88, loving husband of 65 years to the late Betty Jean Harper Pope, peacefully entered into his eternal rest Monday morning, December 23, 2019 at Tranquility at Kennesaw Mountain in Marietta.  Services to celebrate his life will be held in the Wrens Baptist Church at 2:00 P.M. Saturday afternoon, December 28, 2019 with Rev. Carson Fellows and Rev. Scott Pope officiating.  Interment will follow in the Wrens Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

The only son of the late Ola Elizabeth Holiday Pope and the late Robert Thomas Pope, George was born and raised in Pineview.  After graduating Pineview High School, he began his 37-year career with Southern Natural Gas in Macon.  It was there that he met the love of his life on a blind date, experiencing “love at first sight” and marrying seven months later. Because his job required that the family move quite a bit—from Macon to Opelika AL, to Jesup, to Wrens in 1969, then back to Macon—he and Betty always made their family part of the community and made lifelong friends wherever they lived.  Upon his retirement in 1985, they made Wrens their permanent home.  As a teenager, George accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior and served Him as a past member of Pineview Baptist Church, First Methodist Church of Opelika, and Jessup Methodist Church and as a current member of Wrens Baptist Church where he was a Deacon, a member of the Walter Jacobsen Sunday School class, and on every church committee with the exception of music/choir.  In his spare time, he did enjoy hunting, especially quail shoots, and fishing.  He and Betty loved to travel and see God’s handiwork—they either lived in or visited forty-eight states. One of George’s favorite hang outs was Peggy’s where he could enjoy a good meal plus catch up on all the news.  His children and grandchildren described him as loving, fun, fiercely loyal, fair, and compassionate. He did have a true love and concern for people—not only for their life here on earth but also for their eternity.  Above all else, George had an unconditional love for his family and tried to be a Godly leader that his sons, as well as everyone around him, could respect, honor and emulate. George missed his beloved Betty and has now joined her where they are in the presence of God and His Glory.

Those left to cherish George’s memories include his three sons, Ronnie Pope (Renee), Ken Pope (Sheila) and Scott Pope (Sandy); a sister, Elizabeth Blake; five grandchildren, Haley Weigle (Jay), Katelyn Pope, Christian Pope, Chandler Pope and Chesney Pope; nieces, nephews, his church family and many friends. Pallbearers will be Marty Amerson, Emory Clements, Bill Newsome, Jack Phillips, Chandler Pope, Christian Pope, Jack Roberson, Ray Smith and Jay Weigle. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be the Walter Jacobsen Sunday School Class, current and past Deacons of Wrens Baptist Church, Oliver Gay, Charles Milburn, Ed Perdue, Sam Rabun and George Samples.

The family respectfully requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials in his honor be made to the Wrens Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, P.O. Box 588, Wrens GA  30833.

The family will receive friends at James Funeral Home from 6:00 – 8:00 P.M. Friday evening, December 27, 2019.

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MY HERO