Isaac "Ike" Martin Newberry ,Jr.

Isaac Martin Newberry Jr., 94, of Arlington, Georgia, passed away Dec. 4, 2024, at Willson Hospice House in Albany. Ike was born August 8,1930, in Hillside community to Eugenia Rice Newberry and Isaac Martin Newberry Sr. After graduating from Arlington High School, Ike attended ABAC; a member of the baseball team and a basketball cheerleader, he hitchhiked his way home on weekends. He then earned a degree in animal husbandry from UGA. While there, he took a flight school entrance exam in order to be excused from classes for the day and wound up serving as an Air Force fighter pilot for five years. When his F-86 Sabrejet was struck by lightning during a storm in Texas, he ejected just three seconds before the plane crashed. He continued to serve in the Air Force Reserves after he returned home to Hillside. He married the love of his life, Shelby Smith Newberry, and raised their son Mike to follow in his footsteps on the family farm. During his career, he witnessed firsthand the evolution from plowing by mule to GPS guidance, hand-picking cotton to picking with million-dollar machinery, and stacking peanut plants on poles to hauling them from the field with a semi. His favorite activity on the farm, however, was checking on his beloved cows through the open window of his pickup truck, especially with his granddaughter Michaelyn riding beside him in in her car seat. Ike lived a life of service, always putting the welfare of others first. A trusted confidant and man of wisdom, he counseled people from all ages and walks of life from the cab of his well-worn pickup. He shared his love of fishing with friends, always ready for a spur-of-the-moment trip to the Ocklocknee or his place on the St. Johns River. Ike faithfully served in nearly every position at Arlington Baptist Church except preacher and choir member. A successful Moorman’s feed salesman for 35 years, he treated his customers like friends and family. He was a member of the first board of directors at Southwest Georgia Academy and served as a director of Bostwick Banking Company and First State Bank for a combined 55 years. Ike is survived by his wife of 68 years, Shelby Smith Newberry, his son Mike and daughter-in-law Sherri, his granddaughter Michaelyn Ray and her husband Carson, and his great-grandchildren Charlie Ray and Callie Ray. Ike’s funeral service will be Friday, December 6 at Arlington Baptist Church at 11:00 a.m. Bishop Keith Cowart will officiate, accompanied by Dr. Gary Hadden and Dr. Van Power. A graveside service will follow at Oak Grove Cemetery in Arlington. Visitation will be at the Newberry home, 328 Ga Hwy 216, Arlington, from 5:00 – 7:00 PM Thursday, Dec. 5. Pallbearers are Randy Adams, Dennis Brooks, Chris Cowart, Hank Jester, Will Jester, Matt Stuart, Billy Strickland, and Richard Ward. Serving as honorary pallbearers are the deacons of Arlington Baptist Church, members of the Ike Newberry Sunday School class, Turner Bostwick, Jerome Ethridge, Kevin Gaines, Jimmy Megahee, John Moseley, Herman Smith, Tony Smith, Jerry Timmons, Russ Williams, Al Mathis, Chad Mathis, and Michael Grebel.