Bobby Joe Hand

Bobby Joe Hand, of Barnesville, Georgia, passed away on April 6, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia.

            Visitation will be Sunday, April 11, 2021 at Memorial Park Main Funeral Home, 2030 Memorial Park Dr., in Gainesville, Georgia, from 12:00pm-2:00pm followed by services in the chapel at 2:00pm, officiated by Rev. Garth Forster.

            Bobby Joe Hand, known by close family and friends as “B.J. or Bob”, was born in Clayton County, Georgia to Fred and Anne Hand on August 9, 1940. He attended North Clayton High School where he met the love of his life LaRue Boles. Bobby Joe and LaRue were married on June 6, 1958 at North Clayton Baptist Church in Clayton County, Georgia. He had several occupations over his 80 years. He started early in life as a home builder with his father Fred. Followed by his proud time building the Hartwell dam as an iron worker. He concluded his career, after twenty-eight years, with General Motors. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Barnesville.  There, he participated in several mission trips and was an ordained Southern Baptist deacon. He was a member of the Woodmen Life chapter 199 of Barnesville. Bobby Joe and his wife LaRue were world travelers and spent their thirty years of retirement cruising to all seven continents (twenty-two cruises total). He enjoyed spending time outdoors, watching and reading westerns, and could never pass up taking a second look at an old car.

            Bobby Joe is preceded in death by his parents Fred and Anne Hand and his sister Jane Wells.

            Bobby Joe is survived by his wife LaRue Hand of Barnesville, his daughter Dana Pass and Grady of Gainesville, his sister Sharon Stallings and Larry of Thomaston, and brother Daniel Hand of McDonough, his granddaughter Brittany Swindler and Jon, his grandson Andrew Jared Pass both grandchildren are of Gainesville, many nieces and nephews and other kinfolk.

            In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his honor to First Baptist Church, 200 Zebulon Street, in Barnesville, Georgia.

            The family of Bobby Joe wishes to extend our sincere thanks for the thoughts, prayers and kind words.

            Due to Covid-19, the family requests that everyone attending the visitation and service wear a mask and adhere to social distancing guidelines.

Memorial Park Funeral Home, 2030 Memorial Park Road, Gainesville, GA  30504 is in charge of arrangements.