Obituary of Lee Grant Pirkle

Lee Grant Pirkle, 82, of Waycross passed away Sunday, February 22, 2015, at Hospice Satilla Hospice House after an extended illness. He was born in Dawson County, Georgia on May 4, 1932 to the late Carl W. and Jennie Bell Pirkle. Mr. Pirkle had made his home in Waycross, Georgia for the past forty-four years. He was a member of Central Baptist Church. Although he served on past deacon boards and committees, his passion was always missions. He served in the United States Army from 1952 - 1960, during which time he served in the Korean War. After his retirement from the United States Department of Agriculture in 1984, he became the pastor of Haywood Baptist Church. He also served as pastor at Ten Mile Baptist Church, and as a pulpit supply pastor for various churches in the Waycross area. He enjoyed gardening and building small projects. His love for his family was evident and his greatest desire was to know that they, as well as anyone he came into contact with, had a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Along with his parents he was preceded in death by an infant son, Marcus Allen Pirkle; two brothers, George Pirkle and Reid Pirkle; a sister, Eva Mae Talley; parents-in-law, Lee and Eldie Hammond; brothers-in-law, Y. J. Thomason, Ralph Talley, Cleburn Hammond, Robert Hammond, Hugh Hammond, Steve Hammond, and Michael Francis; sisters-in-law, Corene Pirkle, Vileeaze Butterworth, Barbara Milford, Patricia Francis, and Cora Bell Hammond; and a niece, Pamela Roland. Mr. Pirkle is survived by his wife of 60 years, Ruby Hammond Pirkle of Waycross; three sons, Philip Pirkle (Sharon) of Thomson, Georgia, Thomas Pirkle (Jodi) of Hahira, Georgia, and John Pirkle (Tammy) of Waycross; three daughters, Darlene Pirkle, Denise Pirkle Bennett, and Dolores Pirkle Stipe (Steve) all of Waycross; ten grandchildren, Brad Pirkle (Natalie), Amy Pirkle (Jamey), Sara Pirkle Hughes (Scott), Jenny Pirkle, Andrew Bennett (Stephanie), Timothy Bennett, Amanda Stipe, Steven Stipe, Grant Pirkle, and Callie Pirkle; two sisters, Lela Bennett (Lane) of Gainesville, Georgia, and Lona Thomason of Cumming, Georgia; brothers-in-law, Jim Hammond (Jean) of Gainesville, Georgia, Kenneth Hammond (Wanoga) of Cumming, Georgia, Norman Butterworth (Doris) of Canton, Georgia, and Cloys Milford (Nancy) of Cumming, Georgia; sisters-in-law, Mary Pirkle (Donald) of Cumming, Georgia, Diane Buice of Dahlonega, Georgia, and Martha Hammond of Cumming, Georgia; numerous nieces and nephews; three step-grandchildren, Joey Morgan (Geneva), Jessica Crews (Brantley) and Amaris Cox (Hunter); six step-great-grandchildren; and other relatives. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice Satilla, 808 Evergreen Way, Waycross, Georgia 31501 or to the Broadcasting for the Future fund at Central Baptist Church, 201 Ava Street, Waycross, Georgia 31501. The family expresses their sincere appreciation to everyone at Hospice Satilla for the compassionate and loving care that was given to Mr. Pirkle and his family. They would like to especially thank his primary hospice nurse, Amy Mock, and Dr. Donald Waters for their extraordinary care.