Joel Harris Deaton

Joel Harris Deaton (Harris), age 85, passed away Thursday, May 16, 2024, in Augusta. 

A resident of Rome, Georgia for many years, Harris moved to Augusta in early 2022 to live with his sister and her husband, Sue and Kirk Stiles. Harris graduated from Taylorsville High School, Taylorsville, Georgia and Berry College in Rome, Georgia, with a degree in Chemistry. He worked all of his life in the field of Chemistry until his retirement. Harris was a wonderful son, husband, brother, uncle, and friend. He and his wife, Jackie, were members of Garden Lakes Baptist Church in Rome for many years and served in various ministries there. He loved God, his family, friends, and people in need.

Harris was preceded in death by his parents, Joel and Mildred Deaton, of Taylorsville, Georgia, his wife, Jackolin Otis Deaton (Jackie), of Rome, Georgia, and his brother, John Marcus Deaton of Rome, Georgia. He is survived by his sister and her husband, Sue and Kirk Stiles of Augusta, Georgia, two nephews, John Franklin Deaton (Pam) of Kennesaw, Georgia, and James Marcus Deaton of Silver Creek, Georgia, two great nephews, Brandon and Cody Deaton of Kennesaw, Georgia, two stepneices, Sara Elizabeth Stiles of Perry, Georgia, and Callie Stiles Whitlock (Patrick) of Tucker, Georgia, and two sisters-in-law, Sherry Bowling Deaton of Silver Creek, Georgia, and Nolena Otis Petersen of Indianapolis, Indiana.

A graveside service is planned at Oak Knoll Cemetery in Rome, Georgia on Thursday, May 23, 2024, at 2:00 PM led by the pastor of Garden Lakes Baptist Church, Dr. Jimmy Gentry. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Garden Lakes Baptist Church, 2200 Redmond Circle, Rome, Georgia, 30165.

We, the family wish to give a special thank you to Windemere at Harbour View Health and Rehab Center and Regency Hospice both in Augusta, Georgia for their wonderful attention and care during this time. They were a great blessing. We also appreciate the service of Thomas Poteet and Son Funeral Directors in Augusta, Georgia for their assistance and help. We were truly blessed. We will miss Harris so very much, but rejoice that because of our Lord, we will see him again.