Harry Lee Doss Sr., 83, of Alpharetta, formerly of Tifton, Georgia, passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 27, 2024, in Alpharetta, Georgia. The family will receive friends on Friday evening, November 1, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Bowen-Donaldson. A funeral service in his honor will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 2, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals in Tifton. Reverend Jason Loggins of First Baptist Church of Chula will officiate. Following the service, Mr. Doss will be interred at Tift Memorial Gardens. Mikell Reed, Michael Branch, Jared Tanner, Zack Tanner, Dan Doss, Sam McGriff, Sydney Doss, and Katie Weller will be pallbearers. The Men’s Sunday School Class of Chula Baptist Church will be honorary pallbearers.
Born on February 18, 1941, in Tift County, Georgia, Harry was the son of W.D. Doss and Lorene Pearman Doss. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 59 years, Charlotte Reed Doss, and by his son, Harry Lee Doss Jr. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Malinda and Charles Darling of Seminole, Florida, and Columbus, Georgia; his son and daughter-in-law, Bill and Dianne Doss of Alpharetta, Georgia; his daughter-in-law and her husband, Brenda Doss and Kirby Gregory of Tifton, Georgia; and his dear companion in his later years, Joan Kaps. Mr. Doss also leaves behind his cherished grandchildren: Jared Tanner Sr. of Fitzgerald, Georgia; Zack and Joanna Tanner of Valdosta, Georgia; Christina Norton of East Peoria, Illinois; Dan Doss of Washington, D.C.; Sam McGriff of Columbus, Georgia; Sydney Doss of Tifton, Georgia; and Jenny Doss of Corvallis, Oregon. He was additionally blessed with three great grandchildren: Jared Tanner Jr., Alex Tanner, and Jaxon Tanner. He is also survived by his brother David Doss of Woodstock, Georgia, and his sister Esther Doss Davis of Watkinsville, Georgia.
A proud graduate of Tift County High School and Abraham Baldwin College, Mr. Doss displayed a lifelong commitment to hard work and innovation. As a young man, he worked alongside his father on the family farm in Chula. Newly married, he took a job on Andros Island in the Bahamas before returning to Tifton, where he ran his own family farm. He later served for 28 years as the Tift County Director of Roads and Public Works, while owning an earth-moving company for much of that time. Mr. Doss was also the inventor of the Tailgrader, an innovative machine that streamlined road grading. His Tailgrader was widely adopted across Georgia, Alabama, and Florida, earning him two patents before he eventually sold the invention rights.
A devoted family man, Mr. Doss was affectionately known as "G-daddy" to his grandchildren, with whom he shared countless road trips and camping excursions. Together with his wife, he extended his compassion through fostering, welcoming numerous children into their home over the years. Known for his love of hands-on projects and his mechanical ingenuity, he was always engaged in creative work, whether farming, constructing, or devising clever solutions to everyday challenges.
A devout Christian and dedicated member of his church community, Mr. Doss was unwavering in his faith, embodying kindness, generosity, and a commitment to service. His life was a testament to love, diligence, and a spirit of helping others, leaving a legacy deeply cherished by all who knew him.
Flowers will be accepted or memorial gifts may be made to the First Baptist Church of Chula, 30 Academy Drive, Chula, GA 31733 or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital at www.stjude.org.