John Lofton Mock

John Lofton Mock, 89, of Albany, GA, died September 15, 2016 at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital. Funeral services will be held Monday at 11:00 AM at Raliegh White Baptist Church. Reverends Joey Cannon and Ronnie Kinsaul will officiate. Interment will follow in Crown Hill Cemetery.

A native of Miller County, GA, Mr. Mock was the son of the late John Leonard Mock and Beulah Collier Mock. He drove a school bus for the Miller County Schools during high school and graduated from Miller County High School, in 1944. He married his late wife, Ella Mae Glass Mock, in November, 1945. After serving in the Army, he continued farming with his family in Miller County for several more years. "Lofton" thoroughly enjoyed the fellowship of the Class Reunions for the Class of 1944, which he regularly attended until the last one in 2014.

Mr. Mock moved to Albany, GA in 1950, and worked for Inman Produce Company, a wholesale produce company, as a bookkeeper for 9 years and salesman for 7 years. During this time he attended Perry Business College, in Albany, GA.

Mr. Mock was in the retail and wholesale grocery business for 24 years. Starting in 1965, he and wife, Ella Mae, owned and operated Magnolia Street Grocery (the Little Green Store) for 22 years. During those 22 years, he owned and operated Hillcrest Grocery on Eighth Avenue and Jeff's Wholesale Foods on Dawson Road. Jeff's Wholesale Foods was an innovative concept of keeping operating costs low and therefore lower prices for the customer. He loved the meat market and all of his customers. He always asked them at checkout, if they had everything including "lettuce, tomatoes, potatoes, and charcoal". Mr. Mock loved the interaction and joking with customers and they loved him.

Mr. Mock served on the Board of Directors of Rio Stores, Inc., a wholesale grocery distributor, for 15 years, as Director, President, and Chairman of the Board. He also served as Manager, President, and Director of Rio Development Company.

In the fall of 1984, Mr. Mock had the idea to freeze green peanuts for boiling later. He with the help of some local engineers, built a peanut cleaning processor to wash the field-fresh peanuts, remove the dirt and rocks, and bag the green peanuts on site. The fresh, green peanuts were then frozen. This was one of the many entrepreneurial ideas, banks, and companies in which he was involved.

Mr. Mock was very active in the community. He was elected and served on the City of Albany Board of Commissioners from 1988-1989.

After retiring in 1989, Mr. Mock was the main caregiver for his wife, until her passing in 2004. After retirement and until his death, he was involved in residential real estate rentals.

In the late 1950's, Mr. Mock moved his church membership from Flat Creek Baptist Church, in Miller County, to Raliegh White Baptist Church, in Albany, where he remained a faithful member until his death. He was Sunday School Superintendent and taught the men's Fisherman's Sunday School Class for many years, until his health would not allow. He was a deacon and served as Chairman of the Deacons. Mr. Mock was also a Gideon of The Gideons International, Camp U10010.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Ella Mae Glass Mock, a son, Walter Ray Mock, and a grandson, Quinton Heath Mock.

Survivors include son, Hiram Mock and his wife Janet, and daughter, Darlene Mock Wallace and her husband, Timothy, all of Lee County, GA. Survivors also include his grandchildren, Shannon Mock of Newnan, GA, Jeremie Wallace and his wife Stephanie of Valdosta, GA, Brian Wallace and his wife, Deedee of Lee County, GA, Christen Wallace Hoey and her husband Thomas of Lee County, GA, Lauren Mock Holton and her husband Patrick of Lee County, GA, Blake Mock and fiancee Susan Menge of New York, NY, and Abbey Mock and fiancee Burt Finney of Ann Arbor, MI. Great Grandchildren include Lofton Wong Mock, Colbie Wallace, Addison Wallace, Brayden Wallace, Shelbie Wallace, Thomas Hoey III, Camden Hoey, and Wyatt Holton.

Survivors also include his sister, Elizabeth Mock Ditty, and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends from 2:30 PM until 4:30 PM Sunday at Mathews Funeral Home.

Those desiring may make contributions to the Gideons International, Camp U10010-Albany West, P.O. Box 72341, Albany, GA, 31708 or The First Baptist Church of Leesburg, 135 Main St., Leesburg, GA, 31763.