 1928 - 2010 (81 years)
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| Name |
Julius Thomas Wilkes [1] |
| Birth |
18 Oct 1928 |
Jefferson, Jackson, Georgia, USA  [1] |
| Gender |
Male |
| Also Known As |
J T |
| other |
Jefferson, Jackson, Georgia, USA [1] |
| SSN issued |
Georgia, USA [1] |
| Social Security Number |
256-42-1717 [1] |
| Death |
1 Mar 2010 |
Jefferson, Jackson, Georgia, USA [1] |
- J.T. Wilkes: Longtime judge dies at age 81: Newspaper Obituary and Death Notice
Athens Banner-Herald (GA) - March 4, 2010
Deceased Name: J.T. Wilkes: Longtime judge dies at age 81
J.T. Wilkes signed the birth, death and marriage certificates for a generation of Jackson County residents during his 20-year tenure as probate judge.
He not only knew almost everybody in the county, he knew a lot about their lives.
Wilkes, who was 81, died Monday from complications of a stroke. A funeral is scheduled for 2 p.m. today at the First United Methodist Church in Jefferson.
Even after he retired from his office, Wilkes remained a fixture in and around Jefferson. And he always had two things, friends and family said: a story to tell and a piece of peppermint candy.
Wilkes was the founder of the ROMEO Club - which stood for Retired Old Men Eating Out - and the Brockton Old Timers, a group of former amateur baseball players that got together once a year for a reunion game, which Wilkes played well into his 70s, according to his younger brother, Luther.
Luther and J.T. played ball together all through the 1940s and '50s, when every community in the area fielded an amateur baseball team. They'd play all summer and practice all winter.
"On rainy, bad, winter days, we'd get in one of the chicken houses and mark off from pitcher's mound to catcher's box," Wilkes said. "Then he'd throw to me over those chickens."
It scared the chickens, but the brothers always were ready to play come spring, he said.
J.T. Wilkes had a rocket for a pitching arm and could have become a professional baseball player if he wanted, according to his brothers.
"But you know what they say, 'He done good for a country boy,' " Luther Wilkes said.
He owned Wilkes' Texaco in Jefferson before he was elected probate judge in 1972. Luther remembered his entire family going door to door campaigning for J.T. before that first election.
During his 20 years in office, Wilkes served as de facto courthouse caretaker - making sure the county took care of the grounds and that the courthouse clock was wound regularly.
Those years of learning the ins and outs of the 19th-century courthouse made him an invaluable member of the Jackson County Historic Courthouse Restoration Committee, a volunteer group overseeing the 140-year-old landmark's restoration.
"He was just a source on history of the courthouse because he dedicated so many years of his life there as the probate judge," said Len Bernat, purchasing manager for Jackson County and project manager for the courthouse restoration. "He will be missed by everyone on that committee."
When construction work started on the courthouse restoration project last fall, Wilkes said he was just happy he lived long enough to see the project get off the ground. Jackson County commissioners reappointed Wilkes to another term on the courthouse committee at their meeting Monday.
His family asks that those who want to commemorate Wilkes donate money to the Historic Courthouse Restoration Fund in lieu of flowers. The Jackson County Probate Court's office is accepting the donations.
Originally published in the Athens Banner-Herald on Thursday, March 04, 2010
Copyright, 2010, Athens Banner-Herald, All Rights Reserved.
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| Person ID |
I24566 |
tng Genealogy |
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| Event Map |
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 | Birth - 18 Oct 1928 - Jefferson, Jackson, Georgia, USA |
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| other - - Jefferson, Jackson, Georgia, USA |
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 | SSN issued - - Georgia, USA |
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| Death - 1 Mar 2010 - Jefferson, Jackson, Georgia, USA |
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| Notes |
- Julius Thomas "J.T." Wilkes 81
of Jefferson
Evans Funeral Home announces the death of Mr. Julius Thomas “J.T.” Wilkes, age 81, of Jefferson, who passed away on Monday, March 1, 2010. Mr. Wilkes, born in Jefferson, Georgia, was a son of the late Worth and Mattie Jackson Wilkes. He was a graduate of the Martin Institute, and was a retired Jackson County Probate Judge, and former owner of Wilkes Texaco. Mr. Wilkes was a member of the Jefferson First United Methodist Church, the Tumbling Waters Society, Unity Masonic Lodge, and the Stan Escoe Sunday School Class. He was a past president of the Commerce Kiwanis Club, a member of the Jefferson Lions Club, the Jackson County Habitat for Humanity, the Jackson County Historic Courthouse Restoration Committee, and was founder of the original ROMEO Club. Mr. Wilkes was Captain, manager, and starting pitcher for the Brockton Old Timers, and was founder of the Jefferson Little League Baseball program. He was preceded in death by his sisters: Laconia Wilkes, Thelma Nabors, and Frances Glenn. Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Jacque Hutchins Wilkes of Jefferson. Sons and daughters-in-law, Tim and Mona Wilkes of Crawford; Andy and Chrisann Wilkes of Norcross. Daughter and son-in-law, Juli and Alex Wisotsky of Athens. Sisters, Carolyn Evans and Connie Hemphill both of Jefferson. Brothers, Luther Wilkes and Henley Wilkes both of Jefferson. Grandchildren: Tegan, Tyler, Rachel, Zak, Nik, Elliot, Isobel, Kimba, and Erik.
Funeral Services will be held 2:00 PM Thursday, March 4, 2010 at the Jefferson First United Methodist Church with Dr. David Bowen and Rev. Carey Gibson officiating. Interment will follow in the Bethany United Methodist Church Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be Andy Wilkes, Tim Wilkes, Alex Wisotsky, Zak Ellison, Nik Ellison, Tyler Wilkes, Garry Glenn, and Elliot Wilkes. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be members of the original ROMEO Club; Harry Bryan, Bob Bates, Wayne Wiley, Gordon Wilson, Bill Ives, Thomas Harris, Harmon Dearman, Jack Legg, John Cunning, and Cecil Black.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Historic Courthouse Restoration Fund, Probate Judge’s Office, 67 Athens Street Jefferson, Georgia 30549. The family will receive friends on Wednesday from 2:00-4:00 and 7:00-9:00 PM at Evans Funeral Home, Jefferson.706-367-5467. Online condolences at www.evansfuneralhomeinc.com
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