George William Chapman

George Chapman, 97, passed away peacefully on Monday, September 7th, after a life marked by service, adventure, a deep love of connecting with others - and more than a few good stories.

George was born on June 10, 1929, in Sanford, Florida, to Rosamond and Bert Chapman. He started his college career at the University of Florida, where studies took a back seat to his enjoying everything else. After his lackluster start, his parents offered him two choices: return home to work for his father or transfer to a school with fewer distractions. If you knew his father, you would understand why he chose the second option, and headed off to western Kentucky for a smaller school, Murray State. It was there, with some much-needed tutoring from his academically-gifted girlfriend Ann, that he managed to both earn his degree and the hand of the woman who helped him get over the finish line.

After a short stint as a frustrated teacher, George enlisted in the U.S. Army, where his work with servicemen struggling with mental health connected him with what was to become his life-long calling. Upon leaving the Army, he first earned his Master’s in Social Work at Tulane, and then embarked on what became a 30+ year career working with veterans and mental health issues with the Veterans Administration.

One of George’s greatest achievements in life was to marry two amazing women, with whom he shared nearly 70 years of marriage. Ann, his wife of more than 30 years who was killed in a tragic auto accident in 1984, and Lessie, his devoted wife of nearly 37 years who survives him, and whose loving care sustained him through his later years. While George in theory was a bit of a chauvinist, that was never the case when it came to his wives (or daughter). Recognizing that he definitely “married up,” he was their fiercest supporter and always enormously proud of their achievements.

In addition to his love of family, George had a tremendous love of nature and the outdoors. Youthful escapades and family vacations were centered around boating, fishing, scuba diving, hunting and just about anything outdoors. Later in life, these more active passions gave way to time spent in his garden and his yard, where he created a menagerie of roses, fruit trees and every kind of plant he could get his hands on.

Most of all, he will be remembered for his remarkable ability to connect with people from every walk of life – it was perhaps his greatest gift. Whether he was sharing a story, a laugh, or a joke that could sometimes be a bit "unfiltered" - and whether the connections were brief or life-long - George had a talent for leaving others feeling better for the interaction. Even dementia couldn’t dim this super-power, as the caregivers would constantly report how “fun and flirty” he was.

George is survived by his wife, Lessie Chapman; his children, Carl (Julie) Chapman and Cathy (Drew) Nathan; his stepchildren, Tommy (Lora) Garland and John Garland; grandchildren Anna (Rodrigo) Santos, Elizabeth Miller, and Jen (Nick) Manning; step-grandchildren Elizabeth (Brandon) Whitney, Grace (Alex) Jackson, Kayla Prater, and Ashley Garland; great-grandsons Wesley Chapman and Ezekiel Santos; and step-great grandchildren Harper and Hazel Whitney, River and Eleanor Jackson, Paisley and Palmer Prater and Raelynn Kratz; and numerous extended family members and friends who will miss his stories, his humor, and his unforgettable spirit.

Those wishing to honor George’s memory may make a donation to Marvin United Methodist Church at 4400 Wheeler Road, Augusta GA 30907.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, September 11, 2026, at Marvin United Methodist Church, 4400 Wheeler Road, Martinez, GA 30907, with Rev. Ben Wills officiating. A reception will be held at the conclusion of the service, providing family and friends a time for fellowship, remembrance, and celebration of George’s life. Burial will follow the reception at 2:00 PM at Hillcrest Memorial Park, 2700 Deans Bridge Road, Augusta, GA 30906.

Arrangements were entrusted to Platt's Funeral Home, 337 N. Belair Road, Evans, GA 30809 (706) 860-6166. Please take a moment to share your condolences by signing the online guestbook at plattsfuneralhome.com.