Hunter Watson Forsyth

A graveside service will be held on Saturday, May 26, at 10 a.m. at Atwood Cemetery, Valona, Ga., with Father Ted Clarkson of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church officiating.

Hunter was born in Brunswick, Ga., on Nov. 15, 1943 to William McClellan Forsyth and Virginia Watson Forsyth. He graduated from Darien High School in 1962.

From 1965 to 1968, he served in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Mount McKinley as a Boatswain’s Mate, where he was petty officer in charge of the captain’s gig. He often remarked it was the best job in the Navy and he encouraged many people to join the Navy.

A renowned fisherman, Hunter spent most of his life on the water, learning how to shrimp from his uncles Hugh “Bobo” Burrows and Hunter Watson. Like generations past, he read the water, wind, and weather without the use of electronics. He began working on shrimpboats at age 12 and captained his first trawler, the Chief, at age 18. His first Desco was the Susan H. He knew boats from the keel up as he learned the craft of boatbuilding at Desco Marine Inc., where he worked in the early 1960s.

Hunter and Suzanne began Valona Seafood in Valona and have run that business for nearly 40 years. Hunter was the Railway Master at Valona Marine Railway.

The middle of the Forsyth brothers, Hunter embraced family and friends with heartfelt affection and was cut from the mold of “work hard, play hard.” He was courteous and helpful to all he met, and oh did he love a story. He was an epic storyteller. All strangers were viewed as friends he hadn’t met or as interview material, earning him the nickname of the Roving Reporter.

Hunter thoroughly enjoyed recounting tales of his adventures with Alfred “Gabby” Walker, Levi “Punch” Jackson and John Henry McIver.

A natural-born musician and entertainer, Hunter could play anything on the piano once he heard it. In his heyday, he played and sang with the likes of Jack D’Antignac and Vic Waters. Music sustained and filled him throughout his life, and he gave a piano performance for neighbors the week before he died.

Hunter was honored as the Grand Marshal of the 45th McIntosh County Blessing of the Fleet. He’d been asked many times over the years, but in 2013 he finally accepted the tribute.

He is preceded in death by his parents and his brothers, John Chisolm Forsyth and Donald McClellan Forsyth. He is survived by his wife, Suzanne; his son, Will Forsyth; his grandchildren, Joseph Alexander Riley-Forsyth, Lena Atwood Maples-Forsyth and Grey Cooper Maples-Forsyth; and nephews, nieces and cousins. He will be especially missed by nephew John Chisolm Forsyth, who shares his passion for stories and assisted with his care.

Honorary pallbearers include William Brannen, Jules “Red” Hagan, Levi “Punch” Jackson, Lawrence Jacobs, John Henry McIver, Billy Nelson, Lynn Townsend and Vic Waters.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that remembrances be made to St. Andrew's Episcopal Church Food Pantry, P.O. Drawer 929, Darien, GA 31305 and A.C.T. (Animals Count Too), c/o Emmy Minor, 1148 Hidden Valley Road, NE, Townsend, GA 31331.

Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home is serving the family of Hunter Watson Forsyth.