James Aubrey Ross, Sr., 88, of Ocilla, Georgia, died Wednesday, July 15, 2020, at his residence.
Funeral services will be held 9:30 A.M., Friday, July 17, 2020, at The Paulk Funeral Home Chapel in Ocilla, with the Rev. John Gibbs, Jr. officiating. Interment will be held privately in Brushy Creek Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6-8 Thursday evening at the funeral home in Ocilla.
Mr. Ross was born October 1, 1931, in Irwin County, Georgia, to the late Charles William (Bill) & Lillie Priscilla Handley Ross. He began his working career as a farmer. He moved to Macon and worked on the line for Armstrong Cork Company and was an agent for Piedmont Insurance. He then moved to Savannah and worked in sales for Jim Walter Homes. Mr. Ross returned home to Irwin County where he spent most of his life. He farmed row crops and raised swine and cattle and formed Ross Farm Equipment in 1962. He also was an apiarist and loved working his bees. Mr. Ross loved his family dearly and wanted to ensure each one was cared for. He enjoyed deer hunting and fishing as well as collecting things. He was a member of the Young Farmers, Georgia Farm Bureau, National Farmers Organization, and the Irwin EMC.
He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Dorothy Davis Ross of Ocilla; children: Brenda Ross Whitley & Stanley of Ocilla and James Aubrey (Jamie) Ross, Jr. & Nancy of Ocilla; grandchildren: Jason Parks of Ocilla and Justin & Kim Ross of Wray; three great-grandchildren: Sadie Elizabeth Ross, Kaselyn Daisy Ross and Robert James Willis (R.J.) Ross and a brother Charles (Sleepy) Ross & Sara of Ocilla. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Charles William Ross, Jr. and a grandson, Jacob Brice Ross.