A Life To Remember

DEACON GEORGE PEOPLES was born May 29, 1921, to Willie Cecil Peoples and Beatrice Davis Peoples in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania .  In 1925, the family returned to Camilla to live.  Bro. Peoples left Camilla for the U.S. Army where he served for four years and six months.  He was honorably discharged in 1945 at Fort Lewis in Tacoma , Washington .  Remaining in Tacoma , Georgia , Bro. Peoples completed an apprenticeship in plastering and received the Certificate of Apprentice from Tacoma , Washington State Apprenticeship in 1947.  He became certified by trade training with the Association of Plasterers.  For twelve years, George lived in the Los Angeles area practicing his skills.

In 1957, he returned to Camilla and in 1962/63 he met Edward Vason Jones of Albany , internationally known restoration architect.  Edward Jones changed George's destiny by providing him the opportunity to practice his craft in the historical buildings of the nation's capitol.  George was engaged by Edward Jones to help restore the Sena Whitehead Home in Albany .  After the job, Edward Jones and George went to Washington where the two worked on many rooms in the Americana Project, the "New Federalism" design started at the State Department under the Nixon Presidency.

George was in charge of the ornamental plaster work in the Blue, Red and Green Rooms at the White House.  At the State Department he did the work in all the Diplomatic Reception rooms, lounges and other minor rooms as well as the impressive rooms bearing the names Thomas Jefferson, Henry Clay, James Madison and Benjamin Franklin.  When visiting the Washington area you will want to especially notice the intricate ornamental plaster designs in those rooms to truly appreciate the art of George.

On May 13, 1985 , George received the Arthur Ross Award presented by the National Academy of Design's Classical America Society.  The award is presented annually to a painter, sculptor, architect or craftsman whose work has exhibited a continued excellence and integrity in its application of classical ideals.  In 1972, George and Ofie and family attended a reception in the Blue Room after the remodeling was completed with President and Mrs. Nixon in attendance.

Other work by George include four rooms at the Metropolitan Museum in New York City, restoration work in upper state New York, a Manhattan townhouse and several mansions in Alabama and one in Sparta, Georgia.  He completed the Diplomatic Dining Room at the State Department, which took about five months to complete.  He was the master plasterer and consultant for the project.  George first experienced plastering work when he began to follow his father, Willie Cecil Peoples, Sr., also a plasterer around.  George was eight or nine when he started going with his father on plastering jobs.

George is one of the founding members of the Open Door Church of Praise, Inc. in Camilla, Georgia.  He has been in a leadership role in the church for many years, serving as Chairman of the Deacon Board and Finance Committee.  George has been in charge of many building projects for his church and his craftsmanship can be seen throughout the church.  He was married for 49 years to Ofie Mae Clanton Peoples.

Left to cherish her memory are four children, Dr. Gloria Hilton, Tampa, Florida, George J. Peoples, St. Louis, Missouri, Evangelist Rita E. Miles, Atlanta, Georgia, Vince Romero Peoples, Orlando, Florida; four sisters, Naomi Logan, Pemberton, New Jersey, Sallie Hicks, Willingboro, New Jersey, Elizabeth Adams, Cleveland, Ohio, Annie Kate Wilson, Jacksonville, Florida; ten grandchildren; sixteen great grandchildren.

Funeral Service

The funeral service of George Peoples, will be conducted Saturday, August 13, 2011 , at 1:00 p.m. , at Open Door Church of Praise, 7828 U.S. Highway 19, North, Camilla , Georgia .  Reverend Dr. Joe R. Thomas will officiate.

Honorary Pallbearers will be deacons of Open Door Church of Praise.

Active Pallbearers will be American Legionaires Post #518.

Committal Service