John Wesley Harper

Funeral services for John Wesley Harper, age 92, of Cornelia will be held at 3:00 PM on Sunday, August 25, 2013 from the Hillside Memorial Chapel. Rev. James Dumas and Rev. Scott Lance will officiate with interment to follow the service in Hillside Gardens Cemetery. Full military honors will be provided by the Georgia Military Honors Funeral Team.

Mr. Harper passed away Wednesday, August 21, 2013 at his residence following a period of declining health.

Born on November 28, 1920 in Atlanta, Georgia, Mr. Harper was the son of the late Thomas E. and Edna Crane Harper. After graduating from high school, Mr. Harper played short stop for the Boston Red Sox AAA baseball team in Alabama. After a few years baseball and getting quickly tired of riding buses from town to town to play ball, he and a teammate went and enlisted in the United States Army. Mr. Harper served with the 2nd Armored Division "Hell On Wheels" in World War II. He was retired from Carr Linen Service and for the last 15 years Mr. Harper worked at Zaxby's restaurant in Cornelia where he was affectionately known as "Pops". Mr. Harper was a lifetime member of the American Legion, he was a 32 degree Scottish Rite Mason, a member as well as a Shriner. Mr. Harper was an Ordained Deacon and a member of Montgomery Heights Baptist Church in Commerce.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Harper is preceded in death by his wife Mildred Mitchell Harper, as well as 10 brothers and sisters.

Survivors include daughter Connie Roebuck of Commerce, granddaughter Tammy Roebuck Halbrook and husband Travis of Cornelia, grandson Michael John Roebuck and wife Stacey of Talmo, great grandchildren Kristian Roebuck of Talmo, and Alyssa Halbrook and Bryson Halbrook of Cornelia, as well as a many close friends that he considered family.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Saturday, August 24, 2013 from 4-7 PM.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.hillsidememorialchapel.com

Complete obituary information will be announced by Hillside Memorial Chapel, Clarkesville. 706-754-6256.