On September 26th, 2021, after a prolonged decline in health, Joel Robertson passed peacefully at Four County Healthcare in Richland, Georgia.  He was born in Conyers, Georgia on November 29, 1935, to the late Hoyt Robertson and Edna Robertson.  He was married to Vivian Abbott of Lithonia, Georgia on April 19, 1955.  He served in the US Army from 1955 to 1958 stationed in Japan and Iwo Jima.

He received a Bachelor of Forestry in 1963 from the University of Georgia and worked for St. Regis and Champion International Paper Companies for over forty years.  He was the Area Manager for the South and Middle Georgia Region.  He also founded Frontier Realty Company where he was a land broker for many years.

He lived in Lumpkin, Georgia for 56 years.  Everyone knew him as Mister Joel, or to his many nieces and nephews as Uncle Joel.

His passion was the outdoors, hunting, fishing and land conservation.  He surrounded himself with his relatives and friends on numerous hunting trips.  He and his wife, Vivian, also enjoyed travel.  They particularly enjoyed taking trips to Jackson, Wyoming, which is where he spent two years, in his youth working for the Forest Service.

He also enjoyed taking care of his land and overseeing it for the next generation.  His favorite poem was by Joyce Kilmer and titled "Trees".

He believed in giving back and spent many years as a member of the Lumpkin Lions Club, American Legion and was a deacon in the First Baptist Church of Richland, Georgia.  He was also involved in the founding of Westville in Lumpkin and provided support for the Eufaula Wildlife Refuge and Providence Canyon State Park.  He also donated time and artifacts to The Columbus Museum.

In his retirement he authored two books of fiction, The Fugitive Forester and Terrorist in the Forest.

He is survived by his wife, Vivian of Lumpkin, his son, Al (Nancy) of Buena Vista and Andy (Georgette) of Marietta, and grandchildren, Priscilla Kidd, Erica Dotterer, George and Annie Robertson.

We will miss his constant drive, his penchant for always learning, and his giving personality.  He was a true gentleman in every sense.

A Church Service will be held on Thursday, September 30, 2021 at 2:00 pm, at Richland First Baptist Church. Visitation with the family will be held at the church, before the service from 12:00 pm to 1:45 pm. Check the website or Facebook for the location update.

In Lieu of Flowers:  donations may be made in Joel's memory to the Richland First Baptist Church.