Obituary: Reverend J. Don Proctor

Reverend J. Don Proctor, 93, of Saint Simons Island, departed this life to be with his Savior Wednesday, April 12, 2023 at his residence surrounded by his family. Funeral Services will be conducted at 2 pm, on Saturday, April 22nd, 2023 at Saint Simons United Methodist Church. The Reverends Tom Jones, Tom Dent and Jim McIlrath are officiating. Interment will follow at Taylors United Methodist Church Cemetery with Drew Osika, Cory Proctor, Garth Walton, Richard Soper, Chandler Giedl and Mike Fitzgerald serving as pallbearers. Members of the St. Simons United Methodist Church Pilot Sunday School Class will serve as honorary pallbearers. 
 
Born February 19, 1930 in Atlanta, GA to the late Dedrick David and Berdie Lee Norman Proctor, Don graduated from the University of Georgia and Candler School of Theology at Emory University. A swimmer at UGA, he became Head of the Aquatics Program at the Boys Club of Atlanta while studying at Emory. In Atlanta he met and married the love of his life, Mable Smith Proctor. They recently celebrated 70 years of marriage. Reverend Proctor began his ministry at Trinity in Savannah. Followed by Buck Creek McBride in Sylvania, Woodland, Sardis, Evans Chapel and Matthews Chapel in Woodland, Southside in Macon, Soperton First Methodist and Midway in Soperton, Morningside in Albany, Cochran First Methodist in Cochran and Longstreet Methodist in Cochran, Calvary in Swainsboro, Wadley First Methodist in Wadley, Taylors Methodist in Brunswick, Darien Methodist and Morgans Chapel in Darien, Saint Simons United Methodist Church as Director of Senior Ministry and Akin Memorial in Hortense, GA. Reverend Proctor attended several mission trips to Haiti, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Panama to build churches and schools. 
 
Reverend Proctor had been a resident of Saint Simons Island since 1995. He enjoyed golfing, swimming, hunting, fishing and was an avid Georgia Bulldog and Braves Baseball fan. His passion for life came from service to others and he loved serving soup at the Soup Kitchen, working at the Youth Detention Center, MAP International, Cairos Prison Ministries, and Emmaus Walks. In 2000 he joined a popular Barber Shop Quartet which entertained groups around the island. His big smile, hearty laugh and desire to bring a smile to the face of others will be remembered by those who knew and loved him.
 
Don’s love for his wife and partner in ministry and his children, and grands and great grands will live on in their hearts. He loved to make them laugh and was always proud of their accomplishments. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Jeffrey Matthew Proctor, and two brothers, Norman “Tony” Proctor and Col. William David Proctor. Survivors include his wife, Mable Smith Proctor, a daughter, Donna Proctor Nedik both of Saint Simons Island, a son, Alan Keith Proctor and wife Diana of Jacksonville, FL, three grandchildren, Cory Alan Proctor and wife Jamie, Marjorie Nicole Osika and husband Drew, and Lauren Ashley Walton and husband Garth, nine great grandchildren, Devin, Drew, Luke Guy and Adelyn Proctor, Brantley, Paisley and Kinsley Walton, Savannah and Hunter Osika, and several nieces and nephews. 
 
The family will receive friends, April 22, 2023 from 12:30 pm until the funeral hour at Saint Simons United Methodist Church. Memorials may be made to Hospice of the Golden Isles and to Faithworks. Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements.