Joseph Hill Thomas, Iii

Joseph Hill Thomas III died May 8, 2015, in Sandersville, Ga.

Joe was a lifelong resident of Washington County, the son of the late Joseph Hill Thomas, Jr. and Penelope Wall Thomas of Sandersville. He was a graduate of the University of Georgia.

He enjoyed teaching Sunday School, recaning chairs, the Reader’s Digest, family dinners, building bluebird houses, TV shows starring Andy Griffith, calling people by nicknames that he’d invented, filming high school sporting events, making sandcastles at Saint Simons, filling hummingbird feeders, squeezing every mile out of an old truck, sitting on the back pew at church, and piddling in the barn.

His passion was his surviving family: Hill Thomas, his wife Katy, and children Penelope and Ramsay; Simmons Thomas, his wife Shannon, and children Sol and Cora; Johnny Mimbs; Penny Smith and her husband Bob; Barbara Mauldin and her husband Guil; and Randy Thomas.

There will be a memorial service at 2pm on Saturday, May 16, at the Tennille United Methodist Church. Reverend John Irwin and Reverend Randall Smith will officiate. The family will greet visitors at the church after the service.

Honorary pallbearers will be Carl Forrester, Clint Smith, John Grosshans, Billy McMaster, Buddy Johnston, Carwin Avant, Phil Prichard, and Derek Spry.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Tennille United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 265, Tennille, GA 31089.