Thomas Hulan Blackshear, 78, of Blackshear, passed away Sunday, December 31, 2023, at the Hospice Satilla Hospice House in Waycross, following an extended illness.
Born September 20, 1945, in Blakely, he was a son of the late Stout Biggs and Pearl Middleton Blackshear. He grew up in Blakely and graduated from Damascus School. He received his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture with a Major in Poultry Science from the University of Georgia in 1967. He obtained his Master of Science in Poultry Management at the University of Georgia in 1970.
Following college, he lived most of his life in Blackshear and Hoboken and had a long, successful career in the poultry industry. Over the years, he worked in servicing commercial pullets and layers with contract farms. He had owned or been a partner with Blackshear Service Company and Poultry Services of Blackshear and had also worked at Eastern Pullets (National Poultry and Foods) in Lumber City, East Best Service Company in Blackshear, Wallace Hatchery in Dade City, FL, United Egg Marketing Corporation in Blackshear and Cal-Maine Foods in Blackshear, retiring in 2022 as a flock manager. He had also serviced Purina Mills birds in Blackshear under various organizations.
He was a member of Blackshear Presbyterian Church.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Beth Culver Blackshear; a grandson, Major Blackshear; a daughter-in-law, Wanda Joyce Aldridge Blackshear and a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Wayne and Wanda Culver.
Survivors include his son, Mike Blackshear (wife Lori), Blackshear; two grandchildren, Mindie Blackshear and Clay Taylor (wife Anna), both of Blackshear; two great-granddaughters, Leanna Cox, Waycross and Chloe Beth Taylor, Blackshear; brother and sister-in-law, Dan and Sue Blackshear, Greensboro, N.C.; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Larry and Terrie Culver and Cleve and Pam Culver, all of Blackshear and several nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
Visitation will be from 10-11 a.m. Thursday, January 4, 2024, at the funeral home.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 4, from the chapel of Hart Funeral Home.
Interment will follow in the Winn Cemetery.
Sympathy may be expressed by signing online at www.hartfh.com.
Hart Funeral Home of Blackshear is in charge of arrangements.
