Mr. John Henry Pilgrim, age 74, of Cedartown, passed away Friday, November 17, 2023.
Mr. Pilgrim was born January 30, 1949, in Cedartown, Georgia, the son of the late Thomas Virgil Pilgrim and Martha Anderson Pilgrim.
Mr. Pilgrim was a native of Cedartown, having graduated from Cedartown High School, Class of 1966. Even as a young man Mr. Pilgrim has always had a strong work ethic, working in some form or fashion from the age of sixteen.
He began his career as an engineer and would then go on to pursue a career in law enforcement. Mr. Pilgrim embodied the call of public service, using his law enforcement career as an opportunity to serve the community he grew up in. Most people knew him from his days on patrol, but one of his greatest opportunities was to become the School Resource Officer at Cedartown High School where he was able to serve his community in a whole new way and watch his grandchildren grow.
Mr. Pilgrim was a man of strong faith. He was very dedicated to the Lord and to his church, Faith Baptist Church, where he loved to sing. He was gifted in woodworking and took up fishing after retiring in 2017.
More than anything, Mr. Pilgrim loved his family. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend. Mr. Pilgrim always made time for those he loved and made many special memories with them. He leaves a legacy of steadfast love, wisdom, and faith in God; and will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.
Mr. Pilgrim is preceded in death by his loving parents, Virgil Pilgrim and Martha Pilgrim; brothers, Jerry Pilgrim, Sr., and Tommy Pilgrim and his wife, Sue; and brothers in law, Jimmy Brown and Joe Colquitt.
Mr. Pilgrim is survived by his beloved wife, Mrs. Donna Pilgrim; children: Sherry Worthy and her husband, Ryan, Stacey Morgan, and Lee Morgan and his wife, Stephanie; grandchildren: Mason Gore and his wife, Isabella, Morgan Fincher and her husband, Tyler, Makenzy Youngblood and Keshun, Bryce East and his wife, Ciera, Brett East and his wife, Courtney, Jason Nicholson, Grace Nicholson, Rebecca Paige, and Katie Martin; and multiple great-grandchildren who he dearly loved. Additionally, he is survived by his siblings: Bill Pilgrim and his wife, Carol, Lamar Pilgrim and his wife, Charlotte, Frances Colquitt, Evelyn Brown, and Cathy Ingram and her husband, Bill. Several nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family members also survive.
Funeral Services for retired Cedartown Police Corporal, Mr. John Pilgrim, will be held in the chapel of Smith & Miller Funeral Home Tuesday, November 21, 2023, at 6:00 PM, with Cedartown Police Chief Jaime Newsome and Reverend Danny Tucker officiating. To show appreciation for Mr. Pilgrim’s dedicated service to our community, full police Honors will be rendered by the Bartow County Sherriff’s Office.
Mr. Pilgrim’s family will receive friends on Tuesday, November 21, 2023, from 4:00 PM until the service hour, at Smith & Miller Funeral Home.
The Smith & Miller Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Mr. John Henry Pilgrim.
