Lonnie Pope

1934 - 2024

POPE, Sr., Lonnie Hugh

Lonnie Hugh Pope, Sr., 90, of Sunny Side, Georgia, died peacefully on August 21, 2024, surrounded by his family and friends. Lonnie was born March 23, 1934, in Coffee County, Georgia, to his late parents, W.R. Pope and Vicey Peterson Pope. Following his father's employment as a carpenter in the manufacture of personal railway coaches in the growing southern railroad industry, the family moved to Waycross, Georgia, where Lonnie became a standout athlete for Waycross High School in both football and track and field. Following graduation, Lonnie continued his academic career at Mercer University, graduating with a degree in chemistry. With his college degree in hand, Lonnie embarked on a diverse and successful business career, with his first stop as a chemist at Fritzche Brothers, an importer and manufacturer of flavor and fragrances, in New York. Despite the charms of the big city, Lonnie returned to the South, living and working in Dallas, Texas and subsequently Atlanta, Georgia which became his longtime home. Following the birth of his three sons, Lonnie founded his own flavor and fragrance company, Aromatics International, Inc. (the first in the southeast), which was acquired several years later by The RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company. Born with an entrepreneurial spirit, an unwavering sense of optimism and an outgoing and magnetic personality, Lonnie started several other businesses including The Gold Phoenix, a gold coin minting business and Aromatics Flavors and Fragrances (AFF). Following his retirement, Lonnie pursued his passion of taking friends and family quail hunting at his farm near Albany, Georgia before purchasing and moving onto a small farm in Sunny Side, Georgia, just north of Griffin. In Sunny Side, Lonnie took the term "gentleman farmer" to a new level by raising sheep, chickens, turkeys and all manner of wildlife, with the able assistance of his pet donkey "Elvis." Lonnie was warmly welcomed into the Sunny Side and Griffin communities and developed many close personal friendships, among them Ron Rankin and Harold Key, who, among many others, provided unwavering companionship and assistance to Lonnie in the latter years of his life. Born into a large extended family, Lonnie was a natural and gracious host and storyteller, adhering to the adage to "never let the truth get in the way of a good story." Some of his favorite times were spent hosting barbecues and other social events for his sons and a large and diverse group of friends, often with elaborate side dishes flavored with his own spin on "secret ingredients," all the while making sure that "no one goes home hungry." Lonnie's creative spirit and pursuit of joy in his life remain an inspiration to many who had the pleasure of meeting him. As a person of deep faith, Lonnie was a long-time member of First Presbyterian Church in Atlanta and, after moving to Sunny Side, was a regular parishioner and supporter of Sunny Side United Methodist Church, where he was blessed to meet many wonderful and loyal friends. Lonnie is survived by his three sons, Hugh Pope (Mary), English Pope and Bryan Pope (Greer); his ex-wife, Beverly Beadles Pope; his five grandchildren, Kaki Pope Bjorklund (Ross), Mary Bryan Pope Blumberg (Will), Martha Pope, Hayes Pope and Elizabeth Pope; and a large and loving extended family and friend group. A memorial service and celebration of Lonnie's life will be held on Tuesday, September 3, 2024 at 1:00 PM, at Sunny Side United Methodist Church, 5084 Old Atlanta Road, Sunny Side, GA 30284, with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Sunny Side United Methodist Church or a charity of your choice. Conner- Westbury Funeral Home, 1891 W. McIntosh Road, Griffin, Georgia is in charge of arrangements. Please join the family and friends in honoring the life of Lonnie Hugh Pope, Sr., at www.conner-westburyfuneralhome.com for condolences, and posting your tributes and memories.