Wilson Wood Hemphill, Sr.

McDuffie County

Wilson Wood Hemphill, 67, of Thomson entered in to rest at his earthly home on Tuesday, March 16, 2021, surrounded by his family.  He was born May 15, 1953 to the late Walt and Sara Hemphill in Fort Bragg, NC, a military family with eventual CSRA roots.  Most of his young life was spent in Martinez, Georgia where he developed a lifelong appreciation of baseball and music.  Among his formative college experiences were playing rhythm guitar in a local band and meeting his wife of 48 years, Debbie Scoggins, in an Augusta College Economics class.

While honing his crafts during his young adult years, he sold shoes and roofed houses while building a life for his new growing family.  His vocation would later transition to the drafting of houses, and he would eventually retire from a successful career as a design draftsman, and AutoCAD Administrator at Thermal Ceramics in Augusta after graduating from Augusta Tech.  He also taught himself computers from the onset and established his own IT consulting business in 1991 for most of the last thirty years in Augusta, as well.

While raising four children, Woody, Ryan, Anna, and Nick, he contributed to the development of countless young lives as a parent volunteer, Cub Scout campout leader, baseball coach, and consultant and consigliere for his own children's budding careers.  Each of these experiences bestowed his children with lifelong appreciations for Motown, East Coast Beach music, Jimmy Buffet, and the game of baseball.  His personal contributions to 'The Wesleymen', a men's choral quartet that sang in countless settings and venues throughout the CSRA in celebrations of life, celebrations of joy, and many revival services found throughout his community.

Mr. Hemphill was a long-standing member of First Methodist Church of Thomson, Georgia and served in various capacities as sound engineer during a litany of worship services to broadcast to those at home or otherwise in need of the Christian message.  He was a lifelong Christian who knew 'where he was going' throughout his battle with brain cancer.

Survivors include his wife, Debbie Scoggins Hemphill; children, Woody, Ryan, Anna (Ross), and Nick Hemphill, grandchildren, Ross, Sullivan, Charlie, and Mary Wilson Hanahan of Lexington, South Carolina, as well as his brother, Jim Hemphill of Martinez, Georgia, and numerous young people and those who grew up better as a result of his lifelong efforts.

Visitation will be on Friday, March 19, 2021, from 6PM – 8PM at Beggs Funeral Home, 799 Cobbham Road, Thomson, Georgia.  Due to Covid protocols, there will be a private family funeral at 2PM, Saturday, March 20, 2021 at Thomson First United Methodist Church.   The interment will be held at Savannah Valley Memorial Gardens, 2235 Washington Road, Thomson, Georgia following the service around 3PM for anyone who would like to attend.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke University.  Checks may be made payable to "The Tisch Brain Tumor Center", DUMC 3624, Durham, NC, 27710 or to the First United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 8, Thomson, GA  30824.

Per CDC requirements, the family will be observing social distancing, and masks are requested and appreciated.   Due to the current national health concern, the family would appreciate phone calls, cards, texts, and e-mails.

Beggs Funeral Home, 799 Cobbham Rd., Thomson, Georgia is honored to serve the family of Wilson Wood Hemphill, Sr.