Thomas Jefferson Champion Jr.

Beloved husband, devoted father, wise pharmacist, talented golfer, and kindest of friends, Thomas Jefferson Champion, Jr., 91, passed away at his home on December 25, 2014. He was surrounded by family, friends and his much-loved buddy, Harley, his Yorkie-silky terrier mix that shared time between him and his wife Emily. He is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Emily Elizabeth Feaster Champion and his two daughters Rebecca Allison (Becky, Cartersville, GA and Pine Mountain, GA) and Lila Jane Champion (Cartersville, GA), her special friend David Soulis (Cartersville, GA) and her caregiver, Donna Rico. He was preceded in death by his parents, Emily Hebble Champion (Cartersville, GA) and Thomas Jefferson Champion, Sr. (Piedmont, AL; Calhoun, GA; and Cartersville, GA) and his sister, Annis Josephine Champion (Cartersville, GA and Albany, GA).

Champ, or Momo to his golfing buddies, was born in Cartersville, GA on March 28, 21923 and was a lifelong resident. After graduating from Cartersville High, he attended GA Tech for two years before he enlisted in the US Army and entered the Pacific theater to fight in WWII.

Based on his engineering work at GA Tech, the Army assigned Champ to the 650th Engineering Topographic Battalion. His role as a member of the Survey Platoon put him in harm’s way as their main mission was surveying landing sites for US planes before US fighting troops even arrived on site. On November 22, 1944, Thanksgiving Eve, on the island of New Guinea, he was injured in a bombing raid. This raid was officially documented by his box camera, the only camera that survived the raid.

When he returned from the war, he decided to join his father as a pharmacist at Gilreath Champion Drug Store which evolved into Champion Drugs. He finished his pharmacy education at Mercer University Southern School of Pharmacy. As a pharmacist, Champ was known to be a talented, compassionate medical confidant for many Bartow County residents.

A lifelong golfer, Champ’s first clubs were presented to him by his father who had cut down an old set of his. He won the City Championship in 1947 on the old ‘sand and oil’ greens course on Erwin Street near today’s Glad Plant. Later he and his father helped organize what would become Cartersville Country Club where he played untold rounds of golf. At 81 he was the envy of his golf group consisting of Herschel Weisebram, Warren Sims, John Cochran and Larry Hyde and he made headlines in the Tribune news for scoring a rare eagle on a 465 yard hole. The Club turned 60 years old this year and Champ attended the ceremony as the oldest surviving charter member.

He was a lifelong member of Sam Jones Methodist Church in Cartersville. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the church or to the Etowah Scholarship Foundation; PO Box 1239; Cartersville GA 30120.

The family would like to extend special thanks to his loving caregivers who have become close friends: Lola Harp, who has been with him for many years; Donna Hancock; Candy Slocum; Jane Shellhorse Bennett; Yvonne Martin; Zulia Wendell; and Laverne Wilson. Additionally, Coosa Valley Homehealth and Amydisis Hospice and their staff have been spectacular. Rounding out his medical team has been Dr.Roger Hiser and his staff and a special pharmacist friend, Nancy Martin.

Owen’s Funeral Home is in charge of the services. Graveside services will be held on Sunday, December 28, 2014 at 3:00 pm at Oak Hill Cemetery in Cartersville followed by a reception/receiving at Grand Oaks (302 West Main Street; Cartersville; 770-382-6322).

Owen Funeral Home, 12 Collins Drive, Cartersville, Georgia is in charge of the arrangments.