Coach Weyman Lamar Vickers, 72, of Ocilla, Georgia died Sunday, November 28, 2010, at his residence.
Services were held at 4:00 P.M. Tuesday, November 30, 2010 at Ocilla United Methodist Church with the Rev. Scott Brenton and the Rev. Virgil Vickers officiating. Interment followed in the Ocilla Cemetery. Todd Young, Adon Clark, Keith Wynn, Kelly Wynn, Mike Biggers, Bert Smith, Dale Burley and Jay Flesher served as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers were teachers and coaches. Music was provided by Sherry Massee, Karla Foster, Susan Hughes, Cal Miller and Becky Anderson.
Mr. Vickers was born January 19, 1938 in Berrien County to the late Thomas Garthel and Jennie V. Cribb Vickers. He was a 1956 graduate of Berrien County High School where he participated in football, track, baseball and basketball. He placed 3rd in state track hurdles. Mr. Vickers was a graduate of South Georgia College where he played football as a defensive back and running back for Coach Bobby Bowden and also held the record in the 100 yard dash for 52 years. He was awarded the Southeastern Golden Glove Championship in Jacksonville, FL in 1958. He later received his Bachelor’s Degree at Georgia Southern University and Master’s Degree at Georgia Southwestern University. He taught and coached at Oglethorpe County High School Lexington, Jeff Davis County High School, Hazlehurst, GA, Berrien County High School, Nashville, GA. Coach Vickers was Head Coach of Baseball in Berrien County High School, he was awarded the Baseball Coach of the Year in 1967 and 1968, Ware County High School, Waycross, and Irwin County High School in Ocilla, GA and Class A State Championship Football-Backfield Coach in the year 1975. During he tenure as Head Track Coach for 14 years in Irwin County Coach Vickers took the team to the state finals 14 times and was named Class A High School Track Coach of the Year in 1970, 1971, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1981, 1982 and 1983. Also he was awarded Football Coach of the Year in 1977 Region 2A and Football All-Tifton area Coach of the Year. He served on on several committees, Executor Committee Region 2AA and Football State and Track Committee Region 2AA. He was a member of the Georgia High School Athletic Association, Georgia Association of Educators, and a Board Member of Sunnydale Training Center, Inc. He served in the Army National Guard. He was a member of Ocilla United Methodist Church and enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening and cooking.
Survivors include his wife of 48 years, Nellie Pate Vickers of Ocilla; Daughters and sons-in-law: Jill Victoria Vickers Massee (Drew), Fitzgerald, GA., Jodi Melissa Vickers Roberts (Phillip) Tifton, GA and Jason Chadwick (Chad) Vickers (Sharise), Evans, GA. Grandchildren, Sarah Rebecca Massee, Marion Howard (Ward) Massee IV, Margaret Grace Massee, Emilee Victoria Roberts, Kathryn Elizabeth (Beth) Roberts, Elyssa Elanor Roberts, Arden Susann Vickers and Asa Pate Vickers; Brothers and sister-in-law, Thomas Garthel Vickers, Jr. and Martha Anne Douglass Vickers and Sister-in-law and brother-in-law Della Pate Brown and James Lamar Brown and Several nieces and nephews.