J. Richard Sawyer

Funeral service for J. Richard Sawyer, 85 of Anniston will be 11:00 am, Wednesday, November 8, 2017 at Parker Memorial Baptist Church with Rev. James Cohorn and Dr. Mack Amos officiating. A private burial will follow at Forestlawn Gardens. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church.

Survivors include his wife, Peggy Sawyer; son, Mark Sawyer and wife Lorri; granddaughter, Lauren Sawyer Weil and husband Drew; grandsons, Samuel M. Sawyer and John Mark Sawyer;

great-grandchildren, Campbell Bowman Weil and Sloane Sawyer Weil; sister, June Sawyer Tallon; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

He is preceded in death by his son, Jonathon Kurt Sawyer; his parents, John D. Sawyer and Edna Fox Sawyer; and brothers, Roger Sawyer and Jack Sawyer.

Mr. Sawyer was a 1954 graduate of UNC with a degree in chemistry. He was an Army veteran serving from 1954-1956 and while stationed at Ft. McClellan met and married Peggy Joyce Ledbetter of Anniston.

He then attended and graduated from Samford School of Pharmacy in 1960. He was the chief pharmacist and assistant administrator at Huntsville Hospital 1960-1966. When returning to Anniston he founded Sawyers Anniston Pharmacy which operated until 1999. He started and operated several other independent drug stores over the years in the area. He was a registered pharmacist for 50 years.

He served and was chairman of the Anniston Civil Service Board for several years and served on the City Board of Adjustments in later years.

He was a member of Parker Memorial Baptist Church and part of the Friendship Sunday School Class. He served on the Parker Memorial Building Committee, as well as taught Sunday school and was very involved in several areas of the church over the years.

He spent much effort on commercial and residential remodeling building projects and had a major role in the family produce business.

He will be remember for his dedication to his family, his faith and his work ethic.

The family would like to extend special thanks to the doctors and the 9th floor nursing staff of RMC for their love and support.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Parker Memorial Baptist Church Music Fund, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in Memphis, TN or your favorite charity.