John R. Cofty, Sr.

September 6, 2016

John Roger Cofty, Sr., 83, of Brinson, Ga., passed away Tuesday, September 6, 2016.

The funeral service was held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, September 8, 2016, at Ivey Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Mike Albritton officiating. Huey Charles Cofty served as the honorary officiant. Interment followed at Pine Grove Baptist Church Cemetery with Eric Cofty, Patrick Cofty, Marty Phillips, Andy Robertson, Jesse Buz Whitley and Todd Massey serving as active pallbearers. Mickey Doss, Ralph Powell, Jr. and Lane Campbell served as honorary pallbearers.

The family received friends from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 7, 2016, at Ivey Funeral Home. Online visitors may sign the guest register at

www.iveyfuneral.com. Memorial donations may be made to: American Cancer Society, 250 Williams Street NW, Atlanta, GA 30303.

John Roger Cofty was born June 17, 1933, in Columbus, Ga., the son of James Perry Cofty and Vera Merle Powell Cofty. He graduated from Miller County High School, Class of 1950 and married the love of his life, Arlene Barbara Sears, in 1954. John proudly served his country in the United States Navy. He worked for many years with National Linen Service and later retired from Southwest Georgia Oil.

John Cofty loved the land with a true farmer’s heart. He enjoyed growing onions and peppers in his own garden, but was never far away from a tractor and a terrace. He loved animals and sometimes even more when he was hunting or fishing for them. John always smirked at computers and technology until later in life and then could be found surfing the net with the best of the techies. He was a hardheaded man with a soft heart. John loved his people and found he had people everywhere.

Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Arlene Cofty of Brinson; his sons, John R. Cofty, Jr. and his wife, Key, of Bainbridge,  and Doug Cofty and his wife, Tonya, of Brinson; his brother, Don Cofty and his wife, Alecia, of Brinson, and his grandson, Dawson Cofty. John was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings, Cooley Cofty, Allen Cofty, Bobby Cofty, Billy Cofty and Mary Cofty Coleman.