Nathaniel S. Dye, Sr.

Nathaniel Slaughter Dye, Sr, 86, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 19, 2024. Nat was born on June 10, 1937 to Frank Wayne and Nell Slaughter Dye of Blythe, Georgia. He grew up knowing the benefits of rural life, enduring the rigors of work on the the family farm, and attending Blythe Methodist Church.

After elementary school in Blythe, Nat attended Tubman Junior High, and then the Academy of Richmond County. At Richmond, he earned letters in football, basketball and baseball, before graduating in 1955. Most importantly, in high school, he met the love of his life, the beautiful Adelaide Pund.

Nat attended the University of Georgia on a football scholarship from 1955-1958, starting on both offense and defense, all four years under Coach Wally Butts. He was co-captain of the 1958 team with Theron Sapp. He enjoyed the camaraderie of former teammates, which the gatherings of "Wally's Boys" provided.

In December of 1957, Nat married his high school sweetheart. In 1959, he and Adelaide moved to Canada where Nat played for the Edmonton Eskimos from 1959 until 1964. He finished his Canadian career playing a year for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Following his professional football career, the Dyes returned to Georgia, living a short time in Athens and then five years in Early County, before settling at the Dye home place in Blythe, with their three sons.

Nat worked for Georgia Crown Distributing Company for eighteen years, before retiring. Nat and Adelaide lived out their retirement years in Augusta where they had many friends and a loving family around them. One of his greatest joys was coaching various little league baseball teams for his sons and grandson. He and Adelaide faithfully supported and attended the many sporting activites of all of their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Nat enjoyed many hobbies and was an expert hunter and fisherman. He was also an avid golfer, and a former member of the Augusta Country Club, and AGA. He was always a Georgia Bulldog at heart, although he became a loyal Auburn fan for twelve years during his brother Pat's coaching tenure.

Most of all, Nat loved his family and friends. His greatest treasure was his beloved wife of sixty-five years, Adelaide, who in August of 2023 preceded him in death. Also preceding him in death were his parents, his brothers, Wayne Dye and Pat Dye, and long time friend Jimmy Sealy, whom he loved as a brother.

He is survived by his sister, Jayne Dye Snell (Jerry); three sons, Nathaniel Slaughter Dye, Jr. (Beverly), of Evans, James Weltch Dye of Waynesboro, and Fain Parker Dye, Sr. (Heather) of Evans; seven grandchildren, Fain Parker Dye, Jr. (Lauren) of Augusta, Jennifer Dye Hester (Michael) of Acworth, Georgia, Michelle Dye Goodyear (Hank) of Atlanta, Georgia, Bailie Dye Ferguson (Thomas) of Charlotte, NC, and Jessie Adelaide Dye of Jersey City, New Jersey, James Weltch Dye, Jr of Birmingham, Alabama, and Jackson Nathaniel Dye of Ozark, Alabama; six great-grandchildren, Nate Dye, Gibbs Dye, Adelaide "Addie" Dye, of Augusta, and Carter Hester, Caroline Hester and James Hester of Acworth, and many nieces and nephews, whom he all loved dearly.

The funeral service will be held Friday, March 22, 2024 at 11:00 A.M. at Blythe Baptist Church in Blythe, with the Reverend Johnny Rockefeller officiating. Burial will follow in the Church cemetery. Pallbearers will be Parker Dye, Jay Dye, Jackson Dye, Howard Dye, Michael Hester and Thomas Ferguson. Honorary Pallbearers will be members of the Augusta Golf Association. The family will receive friends Thursday evening from 5:00 until 7:00 P.M. at Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 225 North Michigan Avenue, 17th Floor, Chicago, Illinois, 60601, (In Memory of Nat Dye), or to the Hale Foundation, 402 Walker Street, Augusta, Georgia 30901.