Dorsey "Buddy" Ross Knowlton, Jr.

Mr. Dorsey Ross “Buddy” Knowlton, Jr., 63, of Blackshear, passed away Friday afternoon, July 3, 2026, at his residence.

Born in Blackshear, GA on June 4, 1963, he lived in Pierce County all his life.  Buddy was a 1981 graduate of Patterson High School where he played football and basketball for the Patterson Eagles.  Following his graduation from high school, he worked with ACE Pole and Custom Hydraulics before working for GPC at Motion Industries.  He  worked for Hydraulic Supply prior to his decline in health.  Buddy was an avid outdoorsman who loved all kinds of hunting with turkey hunting being his favorite.  He loved to fish, water ski, mow grass, and be on his tractor.  Buddy was a huge Georgia Bulldog fan and would put hunting off when Georgia was playing.  He dearly loved his grandchildren and never missed a chance to take them hunting and fishing.  Buddy was a member of First Baptist Church in Blackshear but attended Bristol Baptist Church in Bristol.

He was a son of the late Dorsey Ross & Betty Jean Strickland Knowlton.  He was also preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, A.J. & Isabelle Dixon Strickland; his paternal grandparents, Hugh Dorsey & Vonice Thornton Knowlton; his father-in-law, Thomas Wright; and a niece, Callie Dean.

Survivors include his wife, Amelia “Amy” Wright Knowlton of Blackshear; his daughter and son-in-law Mallory & Brandon Price of Blackshear; his son and daughter-in-law, Gunnar & MacKenzie Knowlton of Blackshear; three sisters, Millie (Bert) Walker of Blackshear and Jill (Brian) Dowling and Starr (Noel) Harris all of Patterson; a brother, Len (Duce) Knowlton of Santa Rosa, FL; 5 grandchildren, Coleman Price, Ross Knowlton, Gentson Price, Cypress Knowlton, and Emersyn Price; his mother-in-law, Barbara Wright of Blackshear; two sisters-in-law, Paula Wright Dean of Blackshear and Marilyn (Richard) Johnson of Screven; a brother-in-law, Chris (Jennifer) Wright of Blackshear; his very best friend, David (Jamie) Johnson of Alma; and several nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

Funeral services for Buddy will be held Thursday morning, July 9, 2026, at 11:00 o’clock from the Pearson-Dial Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Brett Howell, Rev. R. C. James, and Rev. Daniel Harris officiating.  Mrs. Mallory Price and Mrs. MacKenzie Knowlton will also be giving family tributes.

The family will be receiving friends at the funeral home on Wednesday evening from 6 to 8.

Interment will be in the Strickland Cemetery.

Active pallbearers will be Gunnar Knowlton, Brandon Price, Dan Strickland, David Johnson, Chris Wright, Len Knowlton, Troy Stewart, and Richard Johnson.

Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Patterson High School Class of 1981 along with Buddy’s three grandsons, Coleman, Ross, and Gentson.

Memorials may be made to the Southeast Cancer Unit, PO Box 667, Blackshear, GA  31516 or to Hospice Satilla, 808 Evergreen Way, Waycross, GA  31501.

Suit and ties are not required and were certainly not Buddy’s style and nothing would make Buddy happier than for everyone to dress in their favorite Georgia Bulldog or camouflage attire. 

Sympathy may be expressed by signing the online guestbook at www.pearsondial.com.

Pearson-Dial Funeral Home is honored to serve the Knowlton family during this time.

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