Roy Frederick Shoemaker Jr.

Roy was born in Birmingham, Alabama, and raised in Mobile, Alabama, where he attended University Military School. While at UMS, he achieved numerous athletic honors, lettering in four sports and being named All-State in football and track. He was selected as Mobile County’s Outstanding Athlete of 1958. Roy attended the University of Alabama on an athletic scholarship, where he played football and graduated as a Distinguished Military Graduate.

In 1963, Roy entered the United States Army and served for three years, including one year in Vietnam as a helicopter pilot. During his service, he earned twelve Air Medals and a Medal of Valor for rescuing a downed helicopter crew. Roy married Karen in 1962, and their first child, Shandry, was born while he was serving in Vietnam.

Roy’s professional career was diverse. He was a commercial helicopter pilot and flew traffic patrol for WSB News Atlanta. He also worked in distribution with Avon Products, in real estate with Bonner Realty, and in banking. He retired from NationsBank and later Synovus Financial, where he served as Vice President and Manager of the Athens, Georgia Trust Department.

Roy coached youth sports for fifteen years and served as president of the Parkview High School PTA for two years. He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed fishing, hunting, tennis, and gardening.

Roy pursued his faith in Jesus throughout his life. He was a member of First Baptist Atlanta for more than fifty years, where he belonged to the Crusaders Sunday School Class. He was also a member of The Gideons International.

Roy is survived by his wife of sixty-three years, Karen Shoemaker of Lilburn, Georgia; his sister, Linda Crigler (John)of Ocean Springs, Mississippi; his three children, Shandry Johnson (Jackson) of Cordele, Georgia, Roy F. Shoemaker III “Trey” (Diana) of Chickamauga, Georgia, and Brent Shoemaker (Kelly) of Marietta, Georgia; his six grandchildren, Banks Folsom (Maggy), Sidney Easom (Landon), Will Shoemaker, Wynn Shoemaker, Roark Shoemaker, and Nova Shoemaker; his great-grandchild, Reeves Easom; and his step-grandchildren, Anna Johnson and Addyson Johnson.

A funeral service will be held on January 13, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., with a reception to follow, at First Baptist Church Atlanta Chapel, 4400 North Peachtree Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30338. A private graveside service with military honors will be held immediately after at Arlington Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to one of the following ministries:

Seal Team Ministries – www.sealteamministries.org

First Baptist Church Atlanta – www.fba.org

Arrangements are by H. M. Patterson & Son–Oglethorpe Hill Chapel.