John Wood Boatwright

Mr. John Wood (J. W.) Boatwright, 86, of Rayle, passed away Thursday morning, July 4, 2019, at Greene Point Health and Rehabilitation in Union Point. Mr. Boatwright was born in Wilkes County and lived here all of his life.He was the son of the late Hoke and Jennie Echols Boatwright, and was the husband of Bonnie Smith Boatwright..He served in the United States Army, and was an Army Ranger.He was an accomplished race car driver, and was inducted into the Augusta International Raceway Preservation Society Hall of Fame in 2009.He was a high school teacher at Washington-Wilkes Comprehensive High School for a number of years, and was a member of the Sardis Baptist Church. Mr. Boatwright is survived by his wife, Bonnie Smith Boatwright, of Rayle; two daughters, Connie Boatwright Gamble, of Loganville, and Kay Boatwright Berry (Lamar), of Rayle; one son, John Wesley Boatwright, of Rayle;three grandchildren, Brooke Welborn, Rachel Holdsworth, and Trey Berry; anf four great grandchildren.He was preceded in death by two sisters, Kathryn B. Jackson and Ann B. Corbett, and by his brother, Charles Boatwright. Funeral services will be11:00 Saturday morning at the Sardis Baptist Church with Rev. Jim Newsome officiating.Visitation will be for one hour prior to the service Saturday morning (10:00-11:00) at Sardis Baptist Church . Pallbearers will be Mark Jackson, Randy Boatwright, Kenneth Poss, Barry Echols, James Holdsworth and Bennis Willis.