Capt. Joe W. Grant, 80, of Fitzgerald, Georgia, died Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at his residence with his family by his side.
Funeral services will be held 11 AM, Friday, May 30, 2025, at the Fitzgerald Church of God in Fitzgerald, Georgia, with the Rev. Dewain Joiner officiating. Bill Barrs will give the eulogy. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery, Fitzgerald. The family will receive friends from 6-8 Thursday evening at the funeral home in Fitzgerald.
Capt. Grant was born September 4, 1944, in Macon, Georgia, to the late Joseph A. & Eula Mae Aultman Grant. He attended high school in Macon and graduated from Police Academy in Forsyth. He began a long and distinguished career in law enforcement with the Macon Police Department in 1968. He moved to Ocilla in 1970 and began working for the Ocilla Police Department. He would serve with that agency until retiring in 2009. Capt. Grant continued on a part-time basis with Ocilla PD and the Irwin County Sheriff’s Office for several more years, with his final post being Court Bailiff. His career spanned nearly five decades of service. He loved riding motorcycles, playing with his dogs, camping and traveling. He was a member of the Fitzgerald Church of God where he served as a greeter.
He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Marie Mathews Grant of Fitzgerald; son and daughter-in-law, Todd & Pam Price of Byron; one grandson; one granddaughter; five great-grandchildren; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Rufus & Denise Mathews, W.T. & Carolyn Mathews, Myrtleen Walker, and Bela Mae & John Alligood; as well as many nieces and nephews.
Paulk Funeral Home, Fitzgerald, is in charge of arrangements.