John Lester (J.L.) Pugh

He was preceded in death by his father, Edgar Lee Pugh, mother, Alice C. Porter Pugh, sister, Evelyn Lee Garrison, niece, Susan Epps and great niece, Sandy Dickens.

Born July 30, 1926 in Athens, Georgia, Mr. Pugh was a lifelong resident of Athens and a graduate of Athens High School, Class of 1944. Mr. Pugh worked with his father in his grocery business until he entered the University of Georgia to study pharmacy. However, an accounting professor urged him to change his major to accounting after spotting Mr. Pugh’s “natural talent." He moved to the Athens Business School to take business courses to complete his studies in accounting.

Soon after, Mr. Pugh went to Marietta to work for the Bell Bomber Plant and help build B-29 bombers for the military. Later he came to work for the City of Athens in the Police Department, where he worked to register all cars in Athens (a feat never done before) and to fingerprint and classify fingerprints of accused criminals.

Most of his professional career was spent working for the Georgia Power Company from November 1950 until retirement in 1982, with a short absence to serve his country in the United States Air Force during the Korean Conflict (1953-1955).

As a strong Christian, Mr. Pugh considers his service for Christ as the most important of his life. As a member of Prince Avenue Baptist Church from 1978 to 2006, Mr. Pugh served as a deacon and on many committees. For more than 20 years, he ministered regularly to inmates of the Clarke County Jail and the Youth Development Center. Mr. Pugh is a member of Beech Haven Baptist Church in Athens. He served on the Board of Directors of the Bridgeway Home for Boys, which tried to help boys in need. And, Mr. Pugh became a member of The Gideons International, a group of professional men who share their witness for Christ and distribute Bibles to their community.

Mr. Pugh is survived by his nephew, Philip Garrison and his wife, Joann; Wanda Dickens and her husband, Andra; Alice Ann Peltier and her husband, Jerry; and nephew-in-law, Ray Epps, as well as by several great nieces and great nephews; great great nieces and a great great great nephew.

A gathering of family and friends will be held Monday, July 17, 2023, from 9:30 am to 11:00 am, in Bernstein Funeral Home, immediately followed by the funeral service in the funeral home chapel, officiated by Pastors Rick Brittain and Ray Cearley.

Burial will follow in Evergreen Memorial Park.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Gideons International, P.O. Box 140800, Nashville, TN 37214-0800.

Bernstein Funeral Home is in charge of funeral arrangements.