Mr. Joel L. Hutcheson, age 78, of Kite died at his home Friday, February 19, 2016.

Funeral services were held in Corinth United Methodist Church, Johnson County, at 11 a.m. Tuesday, February 23, with the Reverend Donna Avera, Reverend Hugh Baxter, and Reverend Michael Hutcheson officiating. Burial was in Corinth Cemetery with Sammons Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Hutcheson grew up in the Meeks community and lived in Soperton for thirty-six years before returning to the Meeks community after his retirement. He attended Georgia Military College for two years where he was a member of the basketball team. He was a 1961 graduate of Georgia Tech and was an avid Tech football fan. He was employed with J. P. Stevens Company, was an independent insurance agent, and was a school bus driver for Treutlen County Board of Education for eight years. His favorite pastimes were fishing, driving a tractor, and cheering for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. He was a member of Corinth United Methodist Church.

Survivors include his wife of fifty-five years, Mary Ann Brown Hutcheson; children, Mark Aaron (Sue) Hutcheson of Canton, Laurie H. Peavy of Kite, and Michael Joel (Meredith) Hutcheson of Conyers; grandchildren, Lindsey (Matt) Doss, Brooks Hutcheson, Clint Hutcheson, Melanie Hutcheson, Lauren Hutcheson, Dylan Hutcheson, and Mary Kathryn Hutcheson; sisters, Margaret H. Brantley (Jim Smith) of Winter Haven, FL, and Jean O'Mea of Charleston, SC; brother, Charles (June) Hutcheson of Jasper; and special caregivers, Berneese Steptoe and Betty King.

Pallbearers were grandsons and nephews, Brooks Hutcheson, Clint Hutcheson, Dylan Hutcheson, Chris Hutcheson, Chuck Hutcheson, Jay Hodges, and Richard Brantley.

The honorary escort included John Dykes, Marshall McDuffie, Guy Drake, Hugh Foskey, Phil Foskey, Mike Graham, and Paul Coleman.

In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Georgia, 2302 Parkdale Drive NE, Suite 210, Atlanta, GA 30345.