Paul Light Sr.

Paul Light Sr. was a car man. Anyone who knew him understood this first and foremost. It wasn’t so much the cars themselves as it was the car business. He was born to do that kind of work and he loved it. On Saturday February 11, 2017, at the age of 79, Paul graduated from this life and rejoined his beloved wife of 50 years, Antoinette. Paul’s journey began in 1937 in Bridgeport, West Virginia. After high school and serving his country in the USAF, Paul’s path led him to his real home, Atlanta, GA, where without any real prospects, he was able to find work selling cars in a local dealership. He soon became one of the best salesmen in the area and in 1962, he was recruited to be an assistant sales manager at the brand new Buckhead Chrysler – Plymouth. He quickly proved his worth and moved through the ranks until 1980 when he acquired the dealership from original owner, Larry Munier. For the next 26 years, the dealership thrived with Paul at the helm. His wife and son, Paul Jr., joined him in the business and as a family they ran it together. Many individuals spent entire careers working there and in some cases, multiple generations in the same family worked there at the same time. The dealership was an important part of the community and became a fixture in the area until 2006 when it was sold. At the time, it was the last domestic automobile franchise in the Atlanta city limits. Paul was a complex, private man who placed home and family at the very top of his priorities. He was also an avid golfer, playing many of the great courses of the world including Augusta and St. Andrews. He was a man who never forgot where he came from. He valued loyalty and authenticity above all else in friends and employees. He would often go above and beyond to help people with no expectation of repayment other than the joy of seeing them “get on with their lives” – and that was thanks enough. Paul was a loving and devoted husband, father and grandfather. He will be missed beyond measure and his memory will be cherished forever. He is survived by his mother Angeline (LA), son Paul Jr. (Mary Catherine) and grandchildren Declan and Mallory (GA), his daughter Antonia Nelson (David) of New York. His brothers Ron, John (GA) and Larry (LA) and sister Margaret Jane (AL) and a host of relatives and friends around the country. He is predeceased by his father Jack and his wife, Antoinette. A wake will be held Saturday at the Williams-Payne House - 6075 Sandy Springs Cir, Atlanta, GA 30328 1 – 4 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the charity: Birdies For the Brave (birdiesforthebrave.org)