Paul Henry Knight

Paul Henry Knight, 94 years of age, lovingly known as Paul to friends and Papa to family, entered this world on February 16, 1931, in Coventry, England and died peacefully at home on December 9, 2025, surrounded by family at his home in Jonesboro, Georgia. Born in Coventry to Fred and Irene Knight, he was the second oldest of four siblings: Jean, John, Mary and Michael. During WWII, when Coventry was bombed in November 1940, his family relocated to Ilkley, in Yorkshire, England where he spent the remainder of his youth. Paul had an adventurous spirit and belonged to a cycling club (St. Christopher’s) where he met the love of his life Josie Ford. Together they cycled all over the Yorkshire Dale’s. Their proudest achievement was cycling 200 miles in one day on Josie’s 20th birthday. Paul served in the Royal Air Force for two years as a mechanic. They married in Leeds on February 14, 1953. In April 1963 they emigrated to Los Angeles, California with three young children in tow: David, Susan and Theresa. Paul’s trade was a machine tool rebuilder and work was plentiful in Southern California. In November of 1965 they purchased a brand-new home in Carson, California. Their move to California allowed them to pursue the American Dream. Josie worked for the airline industry first with Western Airlines and later Delta Airlines, which gave them a passion for travel and enabled them to travel the world. In 1987 they moved to Jonesboro, Georgia. Paul is preceded in death by his parents Fred Knight and Irene de Main and siblings Jean Wilson, John Knight, Mary Pinks, and Michael Knight. He is survived by his children David (Tina) Knight, Susan Clark, Theresa (Mike) Thomas, and grandchildren Jennifer (John) Weeks, Theresa Clark, Melanie (Jamielle) Gummer, Lisa Knight, Mike, Chris and Paul Thomas and great-grandchildren Kaitlyn Gilbert, Journey and Phenix Clark, Sabri and Javid Weeks, Elleigh and Hardy Thomas, Adilyn and Jaxton Thomas. Paul is also survived by many cousins, nieces and nephews in the States, England and Canada. The family kindly requests in lieu of flowers that donations be made to the Funeral Ministry at St. Philip Benizi, 591 Flint River Road, Jonesboro, Georgia. 30238. A funeral mass will be held for Paul Henry Knight on Saturday December 27th, 2025, at 10:30 am EST at St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church, 591 Flint River Road, Jonesboro GA 30238. The family will greet guests and attendees beginning at 9:30 am. This mass will be live-streamed and can be viewed at https://stphilipbenizi.org/ (The livestream will start just a couple of minutes before the Mass begins.) A burial of cremains will take place later at Honeycreek Woodlands cemetery in Conyers.