JOHN GARRETT PEARSON SR.

PERRY – John Garrett Pearson, Sr., 80, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, at his home. Services will be on Sunday, November 3, 2024. Visitation will be from 2:00 until 3:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall at First Baptist Church of Fort Valley. Graveside Services will be at 4:00 p.m. in Oak Lawn Cemetery in Fort Valley. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests memorial contributions to Alzheimer’s Association, 886 Mulberry Street, Macon, Georgia 31201. John was born in Macon on January 27, 1944, the third child of the late James and Gladys Garrett Pearson. He grew up in Fort Valley and graduated from Fort Valley High School in 1962. A peach farmer all of his life, John worked with his family at 4J Farms for many years, producing some of the finest peaches that came from Middle Georgia. He was always a hard worker, staying long hours in the orchards during the various growth stages of the peaches. Each year, he looked forward to celebrating the fruits of their labors at the culmination of peach season with a gathering of the entire family at Ormond Beach, Florida, a tradition that still continues today. Later, John began a new business, Peachtree Farms, with his brother, Joe. For nearly ten years, the two enjoyed their agricultural adventures growing and harvesting cotton, while continuing to farm pecans that they had done for over fifty years. John was truly the definition of a Southern Gentleman. An outdoorsman, a hunter, and an avid fisherman, he had many friends who shared fun times with him in the woods and at the Flint River. After retirement, John began building furniture and working with various types of wood. Eventually, he found another mode of expressing his lifelong interest in fish and love for fishing through woodcarving. Naturally he turned to fish as his models. Through the years, he has produced wooden fish that rival Mother Nature’s creations in their reality. His ability to catch big bream pales in comparison to his ability to transform a hunk of wood and some paint into a creation that is almost indistinguishable from a real-live fish. John’s true passion in life, though, was his family, especially being with his grandchildren during the various chapters of their childhood and youth. His influence and legacy will surely live on through them, of which he would be so proud. John was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Jimmy Pearson; and his sister, Jane Beckham Hulbert. Left to cherish the memories they made with John are his loving and devoted wife of thirty-nine years, Debbie Richardson Pearson of Perry; his son and daughter-in-law, John and April Pearson of Perry; his daughter and son-in-law, Sally and Dr. Jonathan Velasquez of Perry; his grandchildren, John Garrett Pearson, Gracie Pearson, Carrie Kinman, Carly Velasquez; his brother and sister-in-law, Joe and Connie Pearson of Fort Valley; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins, and extended family members. The family would like to offer a special thanks of appreciation to John’s caregivers, Shirley Thomas, Kizzy Cole, and Anna Huff; and Pine Pointe Hospice, Rachael Privett, and Laqusha White. Condolences for the family may be left in the online guestbook at www.watsonhunt.com. Watson-Hunt Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.

Tributes

JOHN GARRETT PEARSON SR.

January 27, 1944 - October 30, 2024