George Preston Haslam Jr.

George Preston Haslam Jr., of Bluffton, SC and Tampa, FL, passed away unexpectedly and peacefully on December 16, 2025. Those who knew him were surprised to learn that he finally did something quietly.

Born on April 3, 1948 in Covington, KY to George Haslam Sr. and Doris Deatherage, he spent his youth growing up in California; Misawa, Japan; Savannah, GA; and Tampa, FL.

After a brief stint in the Air Force, where he followed in the footsteps of his father Big George, George tried to settle down at Union College in Barbourville, KY. There he convinced a co-ed 9 years his junior to marry him after only knowing each other for six weeks. They spent the next three decades together until she passed away from breast cancer in 2013.

George worked as a police officer, first in Bell County, KY and then later in Hilton Head, SC. After a few years doing that, he became a teacher and coach in local high schools before retirement.

George spent the last several years in Tampa, FL enjoying retirement and telling the same tall tales about Plant High School football in 1964 and 1965. He loved his dogs, his guns, and aggravating his family (especially Tyler and Mickey).

George was preceded in death by his parents; his sister Gloria Nicole Myers; and his wife Rhonda Tyler Haslam. He is survived by his son Tyler, daughter-in-law Marla, and three grandchildren Will, Luke, and Jana Haslam of Huntington, West Virginia; his niece Marsha Free and husband Fleming of Duluth, GA; great-niece Sara Free of Atlanta, Georgia; daughter-by-choice Elizabeth "Libby" Morris and husband Steve of Atlanta, GA, their children Emma, Julia, and Jack Mixon and Elijah, Noah, Bella, and Micah Morris; reluctant son Mickey Millsap, wife Rebecca Kastl and daughter Maya of Denver, CO; and last, but not least, his first and last love Theresa Millsap of Tampa, FL.

A Gathering of Family and Friends will be held at Blount & Curry Funeral Home-MacDill Avenue in the Bayshore Room, located at 605 S MacDill Ave, Tampa, Florida, 33609. The gathering is scheduled for December 19, 2025, from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm with Air Force Military Honors at 5:00 pm.

An additional celebration of life will be held in Bluffton, SC after the holidays.