The Hymn Writer penned: Or if, on joyful wing Cleaving the sky, Sun, moon, and stars forgot, Upward I fly, still all my song shall be Nearer, my God, to thee.

It is with a sorrowful heart that we announce the passing of: Mr. John Wesley Hezekiah of Valdosta, Georgia.

John Wesley Hezekiah began his journey on September 28, 1940, in Lowndes County, Valdosta, Georgia. He was the fourth child born to the late John L. and Mamie Lee Richardson Hezekiah. As a child, he enjoyed playing baseball, going to the beach, and hanging out with his family. At a young age, he joined Mt. Calvary Baptist Church on East Force Street in Valdosta. His paternal grandfather was one of the founding members of the church where he attended Sunday School, sang in the youth choir, and participated in other youth activities. As an adult, he served on the deacon board, trustee board, finance ministry, and as a Sunday School teacher for the adult men’s class at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church.

He received his education in the Valdosta City School system where he graduated from Pinevale High School in 1958. He later enrolled at Savannah State College where he studied for two years. As a young man, he served as an officer on the Valdosta Police Department. Later, he became an entrepreneur who published his own newspaper. Later, he worked as a laborer at Production Anodizing in Adel, GA. He was promoted to shipping clerk before retiring. For 25 years, he worked as a tax preparer for H&R Block.

On March 20, 1961, he married Ruby Lee Taylor. They were married for 51 years before her demise on July 27, 2012. Four children were born to this union: Stephanie, Thurston, Kenneth, and Shanika. In February 2014, he married Bertha Lee West.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John L. and Mamie Richardson Hezekiah; paternal grandparents, Primus K. and Ida Richardson Hezekiah; maternal grandparents, Isaac and Rebecca Wilkins Richardson; his first wife, Ruby Lee Hezekiah; one sister Deloris Hezekiah; and three brothers: Harry B. Hezekiah, Sr., Charles J. Hezekiah, Sr. and Matthew Hezekiah; and one bonus daughter: Karen Denise Johnson.

He is survived by a loving and devoted wife, Bertha Lee Hezekiah; two daughters Stephanie (Victor) Bivins and Shanika (Clayton) Clark (Valdosta); two sons Thurston Hezekiah (Jonesboro) and Kenneth Hezekiah (Valdosta); three grandsons: Jamieson (Aiyanna) Hezekiah (Bainbridge), Casey Taylor (Snellville), and Nicholas Hezekiah (Valdosta); two granddaughters: YaMaya Crawford (Locust Grove) and Daquanda Robinson (Duluth); one great grandson: Kingston Hezekiah (Bainbridge); one adopted daughter: Sharon (James) Hayes; two devoted sisters: Montez Daniels and Peggy Seward (both of Valdosta); first cousin/sister: Carnetha Washington (Valdosta); one brother-in-law: Undra (Tammy) Taylor, Sr. (Villa Rica); three sisters-in-law: Mabel Hezekiah (Valdosta), Peggy Hezekiah (Columbus), and Mary Heard (Tampa, FL); two daughters-in-law: Emma Cheeks (Locust Grove) and Teresa Taylor (Snellville). Bonus children: Kenneth E. Evans (Valdosta), Warren R. (Maybell) Johnson, Larry W. (Penny) Johnson, John K. (Cynthia) Johnson, Christopher L. Johnson, Mary Frances (Marvin) Paige (all of Homerville), Dennis E. (Evelyn) Johnson (Norfolk, VA), Russell (Nikki) Johnson of Richmond, VA; Lisa (Vincent) Thorpe (Ft. Lauderdale, FL), their children, and grandchildren; the Mt. Calvary Baptist Church family (Valdosta—Pastor David A. Adams), members of the Wilkins Family Reunion and Hezekiah Family Reunion; Pinevale Class of 1958, Savannah State Alumni Association, the Holcombe Family, the St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church family (Homerville—Pastor Jaylen Thomas), The Homerville Soup Kitchen Team; and a host of sorrowing nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

God decided to call him from labor to rest on Sunday, October 09, 2022. Celebration of Life Services will be honored on Saturday, October 15, 2022, at 11:00 AM from the sanctuary of the Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, located on Force Street.

Burial will follow in the Sunset Hill Cemetery.

Final rites are entrusted into the hands of Harrington Funeral Home Inc. The Home of the Morticians 🕊 “We're Not Just a Funeral Home, We're A Family Serving Your Family.