July 1, 1939 - Nov. 27, 2025
John Lockey Hatton, Jr., 86, passed away peacefully in his sleep in the early morning hours of Thanksgiving, Nov. 27, 2025, at his daughter’s home in Macon, Georgia.
Born on July 1, 1939, in Athens, Georgia, John was the son of John Lockey Hatton, Sr. and Mabel Whitehead Hatton. He graduated from Lanier High School in Macon in 1957, and following graduation, joined the U.S. Air Force, where he proudly served for four years. In the early 1960’s, John began what became a lifelong career with Bearings and Drives Industrial. Aside from a short try at dairy farming, he worked with them until his retirement in 2021 at the age of 81.
John had a passion for life and a talent for creating and building whatever was necessary, whether at work, at home, or for his countless friends and his children’s friends, who knew they could always depend on him.
He valued hard work and good friends. If there was something in life to try, he would try it. From riding horses, four-wheelers, and motorcycles, water or snow skiing, barbecuing, building go-carts, a speedboat, motorbikes, and rail buggies, to teaching his children not only how to ride but how to navigate life with independence and skill.
He was full of life and knowledge, and he could fix anything put in front of him; if he didn’t already know how to do it, he’d figure it out in no time.
He loved helping others with their projects too, no matter what it was.
John was an avid hunter, and in 1973 he shot the Georgia state record non-typical deer, a record that he held for 25 years, which still ranks #2 today. John loved the outdoors, finding much joy in his flowers, the countless hummingbirds, and the many deer that wandered through his yard daily, always with his Puppup by his side.
He was also a huge fan of the Georgia Bulldogs and the Atlanta Falcons. John was a hardworking, independent man who never once took his health for granted. He lived life to the fullest and did things his way until the very end. John was preceded in death by his parents, John and Mabel Hatton; his grandson, Cody Hemingway; granddaughter, Melissa Hatton; his son, Steven Hatton, and his children’s mother and lifelong friend, Ann Hatton. He is survived by his fiancé, Debbie Hagood, children, Cathie (Randy) Cole, Robin (Eldridge) Harrell, Bobbie (Richard) Higley, Kim (Gary) Powell, Matt (Candi) Hatton, and Caleb Hatton, fourteen grandchildren, eighteen great-grandchildren, his sister, Sylvia Strickland, and nephews, Andy and Brian Hershner.
The family would like to express their deepest gratitude to the wonderful teams at Georgia House Calls and Pine Pointe Hospice for their compassionate and dedicated care. A visitation was held on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Gray Memorial Chapel & Crematory, and a Celebration of his life service was held on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, at 2 p.m. at Gray Memorial Chapel & Crematory.
Jesus said to him, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.” John 11: 25-26.
