Owen Erwin Etheridge, Jr.

Mr. Owen Etheridge Jr of Sandersville, Georgia, passed peacefully at his residence on Saturday morning, February 17, 2024. A funeral service to celebrate his life will be held on Saturday, March 2, at 2 p.m. at Sandersville First Christian Church. Reverend Cecil Cook will officiate. Honorary pallbearers will be Tony Bonno, Ellis Douglas, Charlie Downs, Buddy Johnston, Jeffrey Mountain, Carl McNally, Tony Michael, and Glenn Newsome. The Etheridge family will greet guests in the Grand Hall of the First Christian Church immediately following the service. Interment will be private in Brownwood Cemetery.

Mr. Etheridge was born in Washington County, Georgia, on January 4, 1946. He was the son of the late Lora Parker Etheridge and Owen Erwin Etheridge Sr, a Kaolin Pioneer. He is a graduate of Washington County High School and Georgia College. Mr. Etheridge also attended Georgia Tech and Mercer University. During high school, he was a member of Boy Scouts of America Troop 74 and editor of the Talon. He participated in football, basketball, and track. Mr. Etheridge retired from Thiele Kaolin Company after twenty-six years of service. At the time of his retirement, he was an Associate Research Chemist. He worked in the Crude Lab and then joined Research and Development, working with the Mineral Processing Group, and the Materials Research Group. Owen made contributions to numerous successful research projects, including a patent in 1997.

In his early years, he was a member of the First Baptist Church of Sandersville, Georgia. He was also a member of the American Chemical Society, the Technical Society of the Pulp and Paper Industry, and the Clay Minerals Society. Mr. Etheridge enjoyed writing music, poetry, inventing, and copywriting. He loved nature and the outdoors, including golfing, fishing, and hunting. Mr. Etheridge was an avid golfer and a member of the Twin City Country Club. Owen was a musician who sang and played guitar in several of his bands. His love of music at an early age led to his involvement in the Sandersville High School Marching Saints Band.

He is predeceased by his sister, Sara Owen Etheridge.

Survivors include his two daughters, Shannon Etheridge Whitten, and Mary Rebecca Etheridge and a stepdaughter, Lauren Adams Bonno (Tony).  He has two granddaughters, Mary Elizabeth Etheridge Walton, and a grandson, Will Marsh Whitten. A sister, Barbara Etheridge Newsom (Strick). Nieces, great nephews, and cousins.

Donations can be made to Broken Shackle Ranch (1542 Francis Bridge Road, Davisboro, Georgia, 31018) and The Freedom Fighters of Georgia Incorporated (2503 Breezy Hill Road, Davisboro, Georgia, 31018).

Condolences may be made online at mayandsmithfuneraldirectors.com

May and Smith Funeral Directors is in charge of these arrangements.