Mr. James L. "Bill" Knight Jr.

Born June 11, 1927 in Griffin Georgia, Bill was the son of the late James L. Knight, Sr., and Anna Bell Knight. A graduate of Griffin High School, he served his country proudly in the United States Navy in the US Asiatic Fleet during World War II with tours of duty in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and Manila Bay, the Philippines. He then attended West Georgia College (University of West Georgia) before graduating from the Emory University School of Journalism in 1951. He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Jan Chapman Knight and their infant son James L. Knight III and his mother and father.

Mr. Knight was a long-time member of the Griffin United Methodist Church where is served as a Sunday School Superintendent, Chairman of the Board of Stewards, and worked in many other capacities in the church. He was a former General Griffin and served as Griffin’s Man of the Year. He was a member of the Griffin Kiwanis Club, having served 61 years, and was a Past President of the Griffin club. Bill was also an honorary member of the Griffin chapter of the American Business Club and was a recipient of the Rotary Club’s Paul Harris Award. He was a Life-Time Member of the Salvation Army’s Board of Directors. An avid sports fan, Bill was elected to the Sports Hall of Fame in Griffin. Mr. Knight was involved in many local civic activities and was proud to be a long-time supporter of the Boy Scouts of America and was a strong supporter of many public school events. Bill was hired as a Sports Reporter for the Griffin Daily News in 1950 and while there, he served in many capacities including Managing Editor and Editor until his retirement 1992. He was a member of the Georgia Press Association as well as many other state and local news organizations. He preferred being called a “newspaper man” and he continued to write local stories for the newspaper following his retirement.

Mr. Knight is survived by a sister, Reba Ann Knight of Griffin; brothers, Thomas L. Knight of Atlanta, Dr. Robert Knight and Brenda D. Knight of Columbia, SC, nephew Tommy Knight of Atlanta, and Sister Minnie Reid of Griffin.

Funeral services for Mr. Knight will be conducted on Thursday, January 26, 2012, at 2:00 PM at Griffin First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Doctor Richard Lumpkin, Rev. Kevin Lobello, and Rev. Hubert Flanagan officiating. Interment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery in the family plot. Friends may visit the family on Wednesday, January 25, 2012, from 6-8 PM at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Griffin First United Methodist Church, the Salvation Army, or the Stepping Stones Center.

To pay condolences online to the family, please do so at www.haistenmccullough.com.

Haisten McCullough Funeral Home, 1155 Everee Inn Rd. is in charge of arrangements.