BRISTOL — Mr. Jimmie R. Deal, 81, of Bristol, passed away Monday night, August 7, 2023, at the Wayne Memorial Hospital in Jesup following a long and courageous battle with multiple myeloma.
Born December 8, 1941, Deal was a son of the late Rollie Kennon and Roanna Rogers Deal. He was a native of Wayne County, but had lived in Appling County most of his life. He was a 1960 graduate of Appling County High School and a 1962 graduate of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton.
Deal had been a member of Lake Chapel Primitive Baptist Church near Patterson since 1959, but had recently been attending Comfort Chapel Primitive Baptist Church in Waycross. He served as the Lake Chapel Cemetery Director since 1986.
He retired in 2011 from Mershon Tractor Company in Mershon following 33 years of service as parts manager. Deal was a founding volunteer with the County Line Fire Department, and a member of the Appling County Young Farmers and Appling County Farm Bureau.
Deal was a big fan of the Atlanta Braves, and enjoyed gardening and piddling around the farm.
Survivors include his wife of almost 54 years, Susie Jones Deal of Bristol; a daughter and son-in-law, Kristie and John Drew of North Augusta, S.C.; two sons, Elder Jason Deal of Bristol and Dr. Kennon Deal of Tifton; two grandchildren, Benjamin Drew and Breanna Drew, both of North Augusta, S.C.; three brothers and sisters-in-law, Vann and Anne Deal of Blackshear, Mike and Suzanne Deal of Jesup and Dr. Horace and Caroline Deal of Statesboro; his sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Nancy J. Thrift of Yulee, Fla., Georgia Lee and Linton Todd of Waycross, and Margaret and Billy Roberts, and Perry and Marjorie Jones, both of Hoboken; and several, nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives.
A funeral service was held Thursday, August 10, from the Lake Chapel Primitive Baptist Church near Patterson with Elder Terry Herrin, Elder Steve Flowers and Elder David Summerford officiating.
Interment followed in the Lake Chapel Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Jonathan Todd, Chad Deal, Jody Thomaston, Matt Deal, Mike Todd and Raymond Jones.
Honorary pallbearers were members of the County Line Volunteer Fire Department, Jim Galvin and the Appling County Young Farmers, and the Appling County High School Class of 1960.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Lake Chapel Cemetery Fund, c/o Karen Switzer, 158 Torrance Road, Baxley, 31513 or to the Comfort Chapel Primitive Baptist Church, c/o Janice Deal, 301 Monocure Street, Waycross, 31503.
Condolences may be expressed online at www.hartfh.com.
Hart Funeral Home in Blackshear was in charge of arrangements.
