Bobby Carrol Pope, 77, of Ocilla, Georgia, died Thursday, January 19, 2017, at Tift Regional Medical Center in Tifton, Georgia.
Funeral services will be held 11 AM, Monday. January 23, 2017, at Bethlehem Baptist Church, in Irwin County, with the Rev. John Gibbs, Jr., the Rev. Sonny Pate and the Rev. James Griffin officiating. Entombment will follow in the Bethlehem Cemetery. The family will receive friends Sunday evening, from 6 PM to 8 PM, at the funeral home in Ocilla.
Mr. Pope was born January 7, 1940, in Turner County, Georgia, to the late Thurman Delois & Willie Alma Wynn Pope. He lived in the Irwin County community all of his life. Mr. Pope was a 1958 graduate from Irwin County High School and was a farmer. He enjoyed growing and ginning cotton and was a partner of more than one cotton gin. In the 60’s Mr. Pope was instrumental in bringing cotton to Irwin County. He was an original member of the Pine Ridge Farming Co-Op and also a member of the National Farmers Organization. He was a former member of the Irwin County Young Farmers Assocation. In 2009 he was awarded the J.E. Leger Agribusiness Award. Mr. Pope was a founding board member of Irwin Academy, in Mystic, Georgia. He dedicated his life to agriculture and was a member of Bethlehem Baptist Church.
He is survived by his two daughters: Carole Anne Rowe & Bobby of Ocilla and Caron Dukes of Ocilla; grandchildren: Chandler & Blaklyn Rowe, Landon Rowe, Isabella Rowe, Lilly Cushman and Jesse Cushman. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Linda Pope.
The family suggest those desiring to send memorials, may mail them to, Bethlehem Baptist Church, C/O Barbie Harper, 485 Daisy Road, Ocilla, Georgia, 31774.