Marion “Pete” Dewey Waldrop, Sr., of Fayetteville, a well-known business man, passed away on Sunday, December 9, 2018, following four days of complications from a surgical procedure at Fayette Piedmont Hospital. He was born and raised in Greenville, S.C., son to the late Edgar C. Waldrop and Lake B. Waldrop.
Pete moved to Fayette County in 1965 and became a lifelong resident. He was Vice President of Marketing for Dixie Frozen Foods which later became Hi-Brand in Peachtree City. Later, he went out on his own and became a successful real estate developer. Some of Pete’s first real estate development projects were Chanticleer and Huntington South Subdivisions. He credited his success in going out on his own in business to his mentor and friend, B.D. “Buck” Murphy, Sr. In addition, Pete also credited his success with great local business partners and associates, such as Darrel Martin, Buford Chandler, Marvin Williams, Sonny Redwine, Ray Hensley, Ray Jones, Gerald Whalen, Houston S. Rozelle, Jr., Jimmy Nesmith and local pharmacist, Don Scarbrough, to name a few. He also served as the first president of the Fayette County Football Little League Association.
Pete was preceded in death by his parents and his wife of 40 plus years, Helen Mims Waldrop. He is survived by his wife, Martha Wilkes Waldrop; one brother, Richard Gantt Waldrop; and two sons, Marion “Pete” (Kimberly) Waldrop, Jr., Colonel Stephen G. (Tracy) Waldrop, USA; and three grandchildren, Marion “Trent” Waldrop, III, W. Alexander Waldrop, and Blake Elizabeth Waldrop.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, December 13, 2018 in the Chapel of Mowell Funeral Home, Fayetteville. The family received friends from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, December 12, 2018 at Carl J. Mowell & Son Funeral Home, Fayetteville. There was a graveside service at 1 p.m. on Saturday, December 15, 2018 at Springwood Cemetery in Greenville S.C., where Mr. Waldrop was laid to rest in the family plot.
The pallbearers for the service were Lynn Barter, LTC(R) Joe Ard, Dennis Shawn Hicks, W. Charlie Filkins, Jimmy Weeks, and Richard Thompson.
Mr. Waldrop was a strong supporter of Christian City located in Union City, Ga. In lieu of flowers, the family lovingly asks that donations be made in Pete’s memory to Christian City, 7345 Red Oak Road, Union City, GA 30291, https://christiancity.org/.
