Gaines Pezent

Gaines Ray Pezent, 95, of Jackson, passed away Thursday, April 21, 2022, at his residence. He was born in Jackson on Sunday, February 20, 1927. A 1948 graduate of Jackson High School, he was also a WWII veteran of the U.S. Army, serving in Trinidad and the British West Indies. He was also a member of Rockville Baptist Church. He met his wife, Freddie Nell Woods in 1949 in Jackson, and the couple married on December 23, 1950, a marriage that lasted for 71 years.
He obtained his first job as a teen, working at Vanity Fair as a machinist. Later, he worked at the M.W. Smith Sawmill and traveled through the South repairing sawmill equipment and building new machinery. In 1964, he was among the first ten men hired at Allied Paper where he retired as a machinist and maintenance supervisor in 1993 at what had become known as Boise Cascade (now PCA).
Through the years, he has enjoyed hunting, fishing, syrup making, bee keeping, gardening and all types of music, especially Jimmy Rogers. He was an avid reader and valued Clarke County history. He enjoyed spending time with his family and loved the holidays. He was a loving and compassionate, hard-working man. He will be missed by family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John Nathan Pezent, Alice Blanche Leonard Pezent: siblings, Joe Pezent, Erby Pezent, James Pezent, Mike Pezent, Lois P. Wilson, Herbert Pezent and sons-in-law, Johnny Bradford and Louie E. "Buck" Pepper.
He is survived by his wife, Freddie Nell Woods Pezent; brother, Charles (Kathryn) Pezent; daughters, Judie (Charles) Martin, Betty (Bobby) Hentschel, Rebecca Bradford; sons, Tony (Patty) Andress, Ray Pezent, Danny Pezent; grandchildren, Jill (Rick) Goolsby, Caroline (Jay) Jackson, John (Sarah) Hentschel, Carli (Clay) Johnston, Rae (Eric) Adams; step-grandchildren, Robby Hentschel, Candy Hentschel, Chad Bradford, Kim (Jamie) Harrell; great-grandchildren, Robin (Allison) Swift, Joshua Brown, Barrett Brown, Lander Johnston, Emalise Johnston, Eliza Johnston, Pepper Adams, Freddy Adams; step great-grandchildren, Sara Overstreet, Brennan Overstreet, Isabel Harrell, Bradford Harrell and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Monday, April 25, 2022, at Rockville Baptist Church with the Rev. Mark Dunn officiating. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow the service in the church cemetery with Lathan Funeral Home directing.
Pallbearers will be Barrett Brown, Joshua Brown, Jamie Harrell, John Hentschel, Clay Johnston and Robin Swift.
Honorary pallbearers will be Eddie Pezent, Erby Pezent, Marcus Pezent, Mirko Pezent, Ryan Pezent, Warner Pezent, Roy Marks, Bubba Rikard and Paul Wilson.
Flowers and memorials are welcome. Memorials in his memory may be made to Rockville Baptist Church or the White Smith Memorial Library.
Condolences may be offered at www.lathanfuneralhome.com.