Augusta, GA - James P. Knight, Jr., 72, entered into rest at University Hospital on November 18, 2010.
Graveside services will be held at 4:00 pm on Monday, November 22, 2010, at Westover Memorial Park. The Very Reverend Robert D. Fain, Church of the Good Shepherd, will officiate.
Known to all as “Jimmy”, he was a native of Augusta, loving husband of 33 years to Susan Knight, father of Jason, James P. (Phil & Terri), Angela and Tammy Knight, step-father of Daniel (Danny & Stacey) Pepper of Austin, Texas. He is also survived by his sister Mary Knight of Augusta and his brother Joe (Betty Sue) Knight of Cummings, GA. Jimmy has four grandchildren, Michael & Leah Knight, Heather Knight, and Taylor Pepper. He was survived by two great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews and his former wife Terri H. Shears.
Jimmy graduated from ARC in 1959. While there, he excelled in football and on the baseball field, playing on many of the State Championship teams of the late 50’s. Jimmy’s other great love was for golf.
Jimmy was a lifelong resident of Richmond County and a 34 year member of the Richmond County Sheriff’s Department where he served on the road patrol and as an Investigator until his retirement in 2002. In 1975, The Outstanding Law Enforcement Officer award was presented to Sgt. J. P. Knight by the Augusta Jaycees, for his service to the community.
Jimmy and his wife founded West Augusta Little League, Inc. in 1980 with the help of great friends and supporters. With their help, he built the five West Augusta Little League baseball field at the end of Eisenhower Drive for the benefit and betterment of the youth in West Augusta. He and his wife ran the League for 22 years, before turning the reins over to a new generation of volunteers.
As noted, Jimmy’s other major love was golf. Through the years, he became a very good golfer and spent as much time on area courses as possible, especially “The Patch”. His playing time had been limited in his later years, but his love of the game never diminished.
Honorary Pallbearers are the Richmond County Sheriff’s Dept., Lewis Robertson, Gerald Dupree, Clarence Savage and Kevin Snoody.
The family will receive friends on Sunday, November 21, 2010 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Platt’s Crawford Avenue.
Memorials may be made to The American Heart Association, P. O. Box 840692, Dallas, TX 75284-0692 or The Alzheimer’s Association, 1899 Central Avenue, Augusta, GA 30904.