Rodney A. Harper, 55, of Ocilla, Georgia, died Monday, May 3, 2010 at his residence.
Funeral services will be held 11 AM Wednesday, May 5 at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Irwin County with Dr. Danny Ray, Elder Edward McIntyre officiating. Joey Veal will give the eulogy. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7-9 P.M. Tuesday evening at the funeral home in Ocilla.
Mr. Harper was born April 5, 1955 in Ocilla, Georgia to Ortiz Harper and the late Janie Annette Martin Harper. He graduated from Irwin County High School in 1973 where he was a member of the FFA before attending ABAC. He was a farmer and former owner/operator of the Chicken Delite. Mr. Harper was a member of Northside Baptist Church in Fitzgerald.
Mr. Harper is survived by a daughter and son-in-law: Kimberly H. & Robert Upton of Ocilla; son and daughter-in-law: Bryan & Annie Harper of Abilene, TX; son and finance Josh Harper & Courtney Papinchak of Houston, TX; grandchildren: Logan Papinchak, William Harper, Jacob Harper and Raleigh Upton; father: Ortiz Harper of Ocilla; brother and sister-in-law: Wilbur & Lisa Harper of Ocilla; sister and brother-in-law: Sue & Steve Hayes of Baxley, as well as several nieces and nephews. Along with his mother, he was preceded in death by an infant son. Kevin Wesley Harper.