Local businessman Richard Jackson Pope of Gainesville died Saturday, June 11, 2016, following a brief illness. Pope was 79.
Founder and CEO of First Financial Services, Pope was also Founder, and CEO of Earrs’ Inc., a leading international supplier of jewelry accessory products founded in 1976. Other business interests included a Christmas tree farm, Oriental rug store, furniture and appliance store and co-owner of a restaurant and bar in Wilmington Island, GA.
A 1955 graduate of Gainesville High School, Oxford at Emory in 1957, and a Business Administration graduate from Emory University in 1959; his studies in business prepared him well for a successful business and entrepreneurial career.
In honor of his mother, the late Ocie Rich Pope, founder of the Hall School of Nursing, (now the Brenau School of Nursing) and charter member of the Hall County Hospital Auxiliary, Richard served as the first male member and treasurer of the Auxiliary Board for 13 years. He also served as a board member of The Medical Center Foundation where he and his wife, Lona, served as co-chairs of the Laurel Society.
A private celebration of life will be held at a later date in the Pope Family Garden, located on the grounds of Northeast Georgia Medical Center.
More details about the life of businessman Richard Pope are on the AccessWDUN obituary page.
