Soper, George
SOPER, Jr., George McLeod
1951 - 2021
Although he had not lived in Atlanta for 50 years, George M. Soper, Jr. was still affectionately remembered by former classmates and friends of the family. He was an outstanding husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend to those of all ages. The huge heart that propelled his love and joy suffered from a sudden tear of the aorta from which, despite surgery, he would not recover. He died peacefully and painlessly on Friday, October 1, 2021 at the Hilton Head Hospital ICU with his wife, Bess, sons McLeod and Gray, and his two sisters keeping him company through his final journey. His 70th birthday was happily celebrated in Atlanta with these devoted family members over a weekend in June, topped off with a dinner at Bone's.
Mike, as he was affectionately known, had lived in the Hilton Head and Bluffton Low Country since 1978. Most recently the Beaufort County representative for the South Carolina Education Lottery, Mike was equally adept at his many jobs, careers, interests and hobbies – from being a most engaging bartender to working for a number of diverse Hilton Head businesses.
Mike and his wife, who owns Bess' Delicatessen on Hilton Head, became exemplary, loving parents to McLeod and Gray, and were admired and respected by their many friends. He never let anything keep him down for long and always looked for a silver lining. "Tomorrow is a new day," he would say. "Today gets left behind at midnight. Could have, should have and would have are history. Can, will and yes awake at 12:01 AM."
George McLeod Soper, Jr. was born in Boston, Massachusetts on June 28, 1951, the youngest child of George McLeod and Suzanne "Hebe" Moeller Soper. The three "Soper kids" – Susie, Wendy and Mike – grew up in an exceptionally close family in Brookhaven. Sadly, Mike was just 17 when his mother died, a year before he graduated from the Darlington School in Rome, Georgia. He was looking forward to celebrating his 50th reunion there next weekend. He attended Athens College in Athens, Alabama where he was an ATO and first met Bess Gray from Elkmont, Alabama. She became his wife ten years later. After transferring to Florida State University in Tallahassee, he followed his dad into the furniture business for several years.
Mike was known for his beautiful green eyes and open-armed hugs for all – and for his uncanny ability to build, invent, repair, design and re-design anything from Adirondack chairs, docks, a work desk, a spice cabinet, and patio table, to a cabinet bar and fool-proof doggie doors, among so much else.
He was a devout member and longtime usher at Church of the Cross where he attended many men's retreats and, with the boys, often cooked Wednesday night suppers. No meal at home or out began without "Bless this food" first. His ashes will be interred in the church columbarium overlooking the May River which has been a constant source of pleasure for Mike and the family. Ashes will also be placed in an Old Saybrook, Connecticut cemetery, overlooking the Long Island Sound, with his parents.
Mike is survived by Bess Gray Soper, his cherished wife of 42 years, and their two sons: George McLeod Soper, III of Greenville, South Carolina and Gray Allensworth Soper of Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. McLeod's two children, George McLeod Soper, IV and Isla Jane Soper will miss their adoring grandfather, "Sopey." His sisters, Susan Soper Holland (William "Bo") of Atlanta and Wendy Soper McSweeney (Patrick) of Powhatan, Virginia – who were always in close, constant contact – also survive him. Many loving nieces and nephews will miss him as will his "shadow," Ginger, a beautiful labradoodle. Previous beloved dogs from Zippo to Sweetie have welcomed him "home."
An overflow funeral service at Church of the Cross was held on Thursday in Bluffton. In lieu of flowers, the family knows Mike would appreciate donations to the Hilton Head Humane Society, 10 Humane Way, Hilton Head Island, SC 29926 or hhhumane.org.
View the obituary on Legacy.com
Funeral Home Information
H.M. Patterson & Son-Oglethorpe Hill Chapel
4550 Peachtree Road Ne
Atlanta, GA
30319
