Hoyt Voyles

Hoyt Gibson Voyles passed away peacefully at St. Mary’s Hospice in Athens, on January 1, 2011.

Born 1917 in Maysville, he was the son of the late James Oscar and Daisy Shirley Voyles. Mr. Voyles was predeceased by five brothers; one sister; his wife of 60 years, Katharine Camp Voyles; and his son, Steven Camp Voyles.

From his roots in Maysville, his career spanned from Atlanta, in 1936 to New York City and retirement in 1977. As Mayor of Riverdale, in the initial 14 years of its chartered existence, he accomplished among other civic projects the installation of city streetlights, creation of a city water system, the Little League Baseball program and land acquisition for and construction of Clayton General Hospital. Mr. Voyles was also a veteran of the United States Army, serving during World War II.

Promoted in 1968 to Sr. Vice President of Operations for Continental Insurance, then the world’s largest fire and casualty insurance company, Mr. Voyles, and his wife Katharine moved to Madison, N.J., from which he commuted daily to New York City. In his position, Mr. Voyles led a reorganization of Continental and was active in the New York City Chamber of Commerce.

On retirement in 1977, Mr. Voyles relocated for a short time to Marietta, before settling in Cocoa Beach, Fla., and becoming an area fixture through his daily surf fishing. Many locals and visitors to Cocoa’s shores shared their coffee as he cast the surf for each season’s variety of fish.

Survivors include his present wife, Martha Evans Voyles; a sister, Louise and husband Tom Peace; daughters, Martha Jo Voyles Byrd and her husband Franklin Eli Byrd, Elizabeth Ann Voyles Eppes and her husband William W. Eppes; son Donald Hoyt Voyles and wife Jacquelyn Ard Voyles; stepsons, James Howard Voyles and Danny Edgar Voyles; 12 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild.

The memorial service will be held Saturday, January 15 at 2 p.m. at Evans Funeral Home, with Minister Tom Plank of Galilee Christian Church conducting the service. The family will receive visitors at Evans Funeral Home following the memorial.

Contributions should be made to the Galilee Christian Church Building Fund, 2191 Galilee Church Rd., Jefferson, GA 30549, or St. Mary’s Hospice House, 1660 Jennings Mill Rd., Bogart, GA 30622.

Hoyt, Daddy, Papa, Big Papa, or the big man was a larger than life American hero. All who knew him live a more enriched life as the result of his touch, his warmth, and his love.

Evans Funeral Home, Jefferson, is in charge of arrangements.