Jimmy Kendall Harper, 85, of Tifton passed away Friday, May 12, 2023, at his residence. His funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, May 15, 2023, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals with the Rev. Ike Branch officiating. Mr. Harper will be laid to rest at Liberty Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Monday, May 15, 2023, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals from 10:00 a.m. until the hour of the service.
Andrew Hale, Hunter Shaw, Keith Belk, Keith Harper, Franco Ortiz, Austin Harper and Adam Hale will serve as pallbearers.
Born April 3, 1938, in Forsyth, Mr. Harper was the son of the late George Leon Harper and Nancy Virginia Henderson Harper Hutto. He was also preceded in death by his step-father, Henry Monroe Hutto; five brothers; three sisters; and one son-in-law, Alvin Hale. Before retiring, he worked in the Ag Engineering Department for 33 years at the UGA Coastal Plain Experiment Station, where he developed farm implements. He loved his grandchildren and his great-grandchildren. He also loved watching baseball and loved hunting and fishing. He enjoyed raising chickens and he had been a member of the First Church of the Nazarene in Tifton for over 40 years.
Mr. Harper is survived by the love of his life, Margaret Ann Brooks Harper of Tifton, to whom he was married for 65 years; three daughters and two sons-in-law, Rhonda Hale, Deborah and James Shaw and Mary Margaret and Franco Ortiz, all of Tifton; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Danny and Lindy Brooks of Jacksonville, Florida; three grandchildren, Suzanne Shaw Belk and her husband Keith, Hunter Shaw, Andrew Hale and his wife Dani; two great-grandchildren, Kagan Belk and his namesake, Kendall Ann Belk; his special friends and caregivers, Jocelyn, Diane and Renee; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Flowers will be accepted or memorial gifts may be made to Traditions Hospice, 110 Tenth Street East, Tifton, GA 31794.