William Gregory Pope, Sr. passed away suddenly on December 29, 2017. Born in Atlanta on December 30, 1970, he was the son of Walter and Ann Pope and a lifelong resident of Covington. Greg died on Friday night, one day short of his birthday. He was 46.
Greg Pope was valedictorian of the Piedmont Academy class of 1989 and while in high school, he served as the Youth Governor of the 44th Youth Assembly for the State YMCA of Georgia. Greg earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Georgia, graduating with honors in1993. At UGA, he was an active member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, where he had many beloved lifelong friends, and was selected for the Arch Society, the university’s unique service organization. In 1996, Greg graduated from the University of Georgia School of Law, where he was a member of the Moot Court team. After briefly working in Atlanta, he returned to his hometown of Covington and founded The Pope Law Firm, P.C., spending 19 years representing disabled and injured workers as a local attorney. He also served eight years as a Newton County Magistrate Judge.
Greg joined the Commerce Club, and it was as a member of the Atlanta Lawyers Club that he met his future wife, Liz Jones. He served twice as Rotary President in Covington, helping to fill out the unexpired term of a president who was stricken with cancer. Greg was also serving as a representative for the Alcovy Circuit for the State Bar Board of Governors.
An active member of First United Methodist Church of Covington, Greg served on several committees, and was a Sunday School teacher and a church trustee. He loved live music, and as a devoted fan of the Georgia Bulldogs, he rarely missed a home game.
Greg is survived by his wife of 13 years, Liz J. Pope, and his two children, Ashley, 12, and Will, 8. He is also survived by his parents, Walter and Ann Pope; his sister, Dr. Sherry Hodges and her husband, Grady Hodges; his parents-in-law, Jane and Woody Jones, and his brothers-in-law and their wives, Scott and Deborah Jones, and Lewis and Angela Jones, and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for Mr. Pope will be held at 11 o’clock Wednesday, January 3, 2018 at The Covington First United Methodist Church with Reverend Doctor Doug Gilreath and Reverend Jan McCoy officiating. Interment will follow at Covington City Cemetery. The family will receive friends at J.C. Harwell and Son Funeral Home on Tuesday, January 2, 2018 from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the First United Methodist Church of Covington Food Pantry. J.C. Harwell and Son Funeral Home, 2157 East Street, SE, Covington, GA 30014, 770-786-2524 is in charge of the arrangements. A guest book maybe signed on-line at www.harwellfuneralhome.com.
