Sonny Garbutt

Frank Randall Garbutt, Jr., affectionately known as “Sonny,” to his family and friends, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 21, 2023 at home under the care of Hospice of South Georgia and his loving family.

A native and lifelong resident of Wayne County, Sonny was born on October 28, 1941 in Jesup to the late Frank Randall Garbutt, Sr. and Anne Morris Garbutt.  He graduated from Wayne County High School in 1959 and served his country in the United States Marine Corps as a Radio Relay Man in Okinawa and Puerto Rico before returning back to the states where he attended the University of Georgia, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.  Sonny worked in sales for most of his career.   His quick wit and charming personality made him a natural, first with International Harvester and later with Foust Textiles, selling fabric, from which he retired in 2015.  After retirement,  he stayed busy managing  downtown rental property and managing multiple businesses in the country.   Sonny’s love of God was strong.  He was a lifelong communicant of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church where he served as Acolyte Warden for many years.    In addition to his parents, his granddaughter, Eliza Kay; his brother-in-law, J. Alvin Leaphart, Jr. and his sister-in-law, Florence Leaphart Stanford, all preceded him in death.

Survivors include his wife of fifty-eight years, Patricia, Leaphart Garbutt of Jesup; two children, Randall Garbutt of Green Cove Springs, Florida and Elizabeth Anne Garbutt of Montgomery, Alabama; sister, Rebecca Garbutt Aiello of Cumming, Georgia; grandchildren, Hillary Dent, Isabella Garbutt, Betty Chappell, Ella Geiger and Sophie Lewis; great grandson, Wesley Dent; brother-in-law, Ben Leaphart and wife, Millie of Greenville, South Carolina and sister-in-law, Beverly Leaphart of Jesup.  Numerous nieces, nephews and extended family members also survive.

A memorial mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 22, 2023 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church with the Reverends Nathan Wilson, Dee Shaffer and Steve Larson officiating.  A reception will follow the service in the church parish hall.

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