James Michael Pope

North Augusta, SC – Funeral Services for James Michael Pope, 82, who entered into rest September 11, 2023, will be conducted Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock from the Posey Funeral Chapel, Dr. Randy Cooper and Dr. John Newell officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Graveside Services will be held for family Monday afternoon at 1 o’clock at Pine Level Methodist Church Cemetery, Fitzgerald, GA. Mr. Pope was born June 23, 1941, in Fitzgerald, GA to the late John Ralph and Lucy Christine Pope. At the age of 16, he was asked to run for Ben Hill County Surveyor and became the youngest surveyor in the state of Georgia. Mr. Pope graduated from Fitzgerald High School in 1959 and Georgia Tech University in 1963 with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. He came to Augusta in 1965 and worked for the City of Augusta Engineering Department before going to work for Jones and Fellows Engineering. In 1968, Mr. Pope partnered with Brian Besson and together they started Besson and Pope Engineering. They founded CSRA Testing and Engineering in 1976 and Mr. Pope served as the company president until his death. The company remains family operated and owned. He served on the Aiken County Planning Commission and as Acting Aiken County Engineer. He also served as Bush Field Airport Engineer for over 20 years and designed many airports across the state of Georgia. Away from his life as an engineer and business owner, he enjoyed golf, playing piano, reading, puzzles, playing cards and spending time at the farm, but most of all spending time with his family. Mr. Pope was a member of Grace United Methodist Church where he was a member of The Cokesbury Sunday School Class. Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Elizabeth Washington Pope; daughter, Christina Pope Markwalter; sons, Michael W. Pope (Pamela) and Jeffery S. Pope (Ginger); six grandchildren, Katie Stewart (Chip), Heather Pope, Evan Pope (McKay), Ashley McKinney (Bradshaw), Amnor Markwalter and Makay Markwalter; two great-grandchildren, Oliver Pope Stewart and Weston James McKinney, and brother-in-law, Randall G. Washington. Honorary Pallbearers will be members of the Cokesbury Sunday School Class along with long time CSRA Testing & Engineering work family, Dana Furmage, Jimmy Bauserman, and Jon Pruett. Memorials may be made to the Women of Grace Scholarship Fund, Grace Methodist Church, 639 Georgia Avenue, North Augusta, SC; Piedmont Augusta Foundation, 2260 Wrightsboro Road, Augusta, GA (Miracle Mile); or American Heart Association, www.heart.org.

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James Michael Pope

June 23, 1941 - September 11, 2023