George Wesley Pope

George Wesley Pope, 12/20/1925 – 11/09/2015, was born in Oxford, GA, grew up in Atlanta, and died in Woodstock, GA, 41 days prior to his 90th birthday. A US Navy veteran of World War II, he married his childhood sweetheart, Martha Louise Hunter of Thomaston, GA 70 years ago this coming New Year's Eve. He is preceded in death by his parents; Daniel Fred Pope, Sr. and Katie Lou Smith Pope; brothers, Daniel Fred Pope, Jr., H. Stanley Pope; and sister, Doris Pope Walters. He is survived by his devoted and loving wife, Martha Louise Pope; children, Jean Carolyn Pope Herzer (John), Woodstock, GA, George W. “Chip” Pope, Jr. (Debra), Nashville, TN, James A. “Al” Pope, Angela Louise Pope Lyons (Peter), and Cheryl Marie Pope Neville, Marietta, GA; eight grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter.

The second of 14 children, he became the patriarch of his family at the age of 25 at the untimely death of his father. His surviving siblings include; six brothers, Raymond, Baron, Kenneth, John, Richard and Vandy Pope; four sisters Loudean Pope, Juanita Rivas, Kathryn Mathis, and Robby Pinder; as well as several brothers and sisters in law.

In his professional life and his life of service to family, friends, community, and country, he held many offices of respect and honor. He was an accounting major at what is now Georgia State University and a member of the GSU Alumni Association.

He was a Past Master and 50-year member of Gate City Lodge #2 F&AM and honored to be a member of the 33rd Degree Scottish Rite and a former Director of Work.

He was the chairman, president and majority owner of Raley Brothers, Inc. Founded in Atlanta in 1898, it became perhaps one of Georgia’s largest and most respected food brokers. He joined the company in 1949 becoming president in 1972 and eventually the owner.

He served as president of various civic and business organizations. He was elected president of the Atlanta Food Brokers Association in 1969. In 1983, he was elected National Chairman of the National Food Brokers Association, in Washington, D.C.

For the Metropolitan Atlanta United Way, he served on the Planning, Allocations and Community Services Committee.

He was president and then board chairman of the Metropolitan Atlanta Boys Clubs, starting as a boyhood member of the Atlanta Boys Club in 1938. He was an early proponent of combining and desegregation of the boys clubs in Metro Atlanta. He gave the Boys Club experience much credit for his personal growth.

He enjoyed the many benefits of working in churches in Atlanta, Florida, and in the Nashville, TN areas, always learning as he was teaching.

Many, many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends also added much to his joy of living, ease of dying, and his hope for a happy eternity in heaven with his Lord Jesus Christ.

George Wesley Pope, who gave so much of himself and his personal resources to so many has passed from this life to his eternal reward. He will be eternally loved and missed by all he touched. God rest his soul.

Visitation will be held at H.M. Patterson & Son, Canton Hill Chapel on Thursday, November 12, 2015 from 5PM to 7PM. Funeral services will be Friday, November 13, 2015 at 11AM at H.M. Patterson & Son, Canton Hill, Marietta, GA.