Granville E. "George" Messick

Granville E. “George” Messick passed away Tuesday, 27 September 2016. A native of Georgetown, Delaware, he was born on 8 May 1932, the youngest son, and one of six siblings, of the late George H. and Thelma Jane Burks Messick. George served in the United States Navy aboard the USS Compton and was honorably discharged in 1954.

George held several food service positions among such entities as Howard Johnson, Greyhound and Holiday Inn. He decided to make Memphis his home and in 1964, and the late J. W. Lawson, the founder of Tops Bar B Q, hired George to manage his six Tops stores. Upon Mr. Lawson retirement in 1984 George bought Tops Bar B Q Inc. and with the help of his manager, George “Monty” Montague, who has worked with him for 41 years, the business has continued to grow along with the number of stores. To date there are 15 Tops Bar B Q restaurants, not just in Memphis but in Arkansas and Mississippi as well.

Eugenia “Genie” Lauderdale Messick, George’s wife of 53 years, survives him. Both Genie and Monty assure their more than 150 employees that Tops Bar B Q will continue with quality and service to uphold its legacy as the oldest and only independent barbecue chain in the Mid-South.

Also surviving George are his sisters, Margaret M. Horsey, Georgetown, DE, and Martha E.M. Trimper, Ocean City, MD and Jensen Beach, FL. Predeceasing him are sisters Evelyn Messick, Thelma Jane M. White (Murray), Eleanor M. Johnson (W. Layton), older brother Hugh W. Messick (Betty) and nephew Jeffrey A. White and great-niece Lauren Johnson.

Loving nieces and nephews also surviving include John Messick, Sue Quarterson, Lyn Horsey, Jane Clendaniel, Stephen White, George Johnson, Sharon Johnson and Rebecca Dennis. Also leaving to honor their uncle are seven great-nieces and nephews.

Memphis Funeral Home, 5599 Poplar Avenue, is the location for a visitation period from 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday, 5 October and a eulogy given by George Montague on Thursday, 6 October at 2 p.m. The eulogy will be followed by food and fellowship in the Life Remembrance Center of Memphis Funeral Home. (A private memorial service will be held by the Messick family in Delaware at a later date.)

Cremation is at the request of the deceased. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.