Judson Luther Hobby

Funeral services for Judson Luther Hobby, 92, of Ashburn, GA. will be held Saturday, August 22, 2009 at 10:00 AM at the First Baptist Church, Ashburn, GA. Mr. Hobby passed away Saturday, August 15, 2009 due to complications that began when a 100-year-old pecan tree fell on him during a summer storm in August, 2008. Interment will follow in the Rose Hill Cemetery, Ashburn.

The son of the late Osie Lewis and Mary Frances Haman Hobby, he was born in Turner Co., GA. Mr. Hobby was former Sheriff of Seminole County Florida and retired from the Seaboard Coastline Railroad as an engineer. He was a member of the Ashburn First Baptist Church where he served as a deacon and was a member of The Gilbert Branch Sunday School Class. He was preceded in death by his wife, Grace A. Hobby in 1997 and a grandson Matthew Clayton Hobby in 2006.

Raised in the forks of Deep Creek, he walked three miles to school and home each day. He finished Rebecca High School in 1934. He received a grant-in-aid to go to Middle Georgia College in Cochran, GA. At 6’5” he was the tallest in his class and was selected to the Varsity Basketball Squad. They were the 1936 State Champs and he recently donated the original plaque to the student body.

In 1940, hired as a fireman on the Atlantic Coastline Railroad, he worked in that position until the outbreak of WWII. He became a locomotive engineer strategically transporting troops and war supplies. He worked on the railroad until he took a leave-of-absence in 1952 to become Sheriff of Seminole County, Florida. He served as sheriff for 16 years. In 1953, he appointed the first black Deputy Sheriff in the State of Florida. He was always the highest vote getter and won every election. After 16 years as Sheriff, with full seniority from the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, he returned to the Seaboard Coastline Railroad. He drove the "Silver Meteor" from Wildwood to Miami until his retirement in 1982. He and Grace returned to the "Forks of Deep Creek" to raise cattle and renew old friendships. Until his accident, he also served as docent and historian for the Sam's Shortline Railroad, a popular passenger excursion train that runs for Cordele to Plains, Georgia.

Survivors include his children, Mary Grace Hobby, Ashburn, GA.; Judson Hobby, Marietta, GA; Lela Hobby-Burns, Longmeadow, MA and David A. Hobby, Midland, TX. He is also survived by nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

For those who wish in lieu of flowers, please make donations to Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer, 5775 Glenridge Dr., Building C, Suite 120, Sandy Springs, GA 30328

The family will receive friends Friday evening from six until eight at Perry Funeral Chapel, Ashburn.