Owen Bellamy, Sr.

Mr. Owen Bellamy, Sr., 80, of Swainsboro passed away Friday, August 20, 2021, at Emanuel Medical Center following a brief illness.

Mr. Bellamy was born February 5, 1941, in Swainsboro to the late Tommy W. Bellamy, Sr. and Jeanette Lindsey Bellamy. He is preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Katherine Michelle Bellamy; stepson, Larry Marvin Collins II.  Mr. Owen Bellamy Sr. was a fun-loving and hardworking man. At a young age he helped his family start the Highway 56 Drive-In. He learned to run a tractor and built the ramps for the cars to park at the drive-in. He spent many nights working at the show. After graduating from Swainsboro High School in 1959 he joined the National Guard. Then later in the 1960s, he found a passion for aviation. He obtained his pilot’s license and began a journey of 18,000 hours of flight time. He flew for many people including former U.S. Senator, David Gambrell. He also enjoyed crop dusting and shared many stories of the charter work and the many adventures he went on over the years. Mr. Bellamy loved to make you laugh. If you were around him any length of time, he would make sure he had a good joke to tell you. He also had an ear for all things mechanical. As a young boy, he once took apart his own motorcycle just to see if he could put it back together. This led to a life of all things fast; motorcycles, airplanes, and race cars. He lived life to the fullest every day and never talked about any regrets.  In 1980, Mr. Owen Bellamy met the love of his life, Chris Hudson Bellamy. They would later spend the next 40 plus years working side-by-side and raising a family together. His love for his family was always his motivation. If you were part of his inner circle you knew it. Most recently he retired and began to spend more time with his beloved grandsons, Bowen and Hudson. He was already instilling in them the importance of work and family. We will always remember him as being man of his word and having a generous heart. Mr. Owen Bellamy will be deeply missed by those that loved him the most.

Survivors include his wife, Chris Hudson Bellamy of Swainsboro; children, Louis Owen Bellamy Jr. (Shanne) of Crawfordville, Florida, Lake Richard Bellamy of Tallahassee, Florida, Angela Jeanette Bellamy of Panama City, Florida, Lindsey Sky Bellamy Ware (Jansen) of Swainsboro; grandchildren, Louis Owen Bellamy III (Cheryl), Kari-Lin Smith Swygert, Trey Collins (Emmerson) Ernest Chandler, Ashley Deffert (Karl), Carlton Vinson, Samuel Bowen Ware, Hudson Joe Ware; sisters, Sara Elizabeth Wilkinson (Doug) of Swainsboro, Carolyn Dianette Bellamy of Statesboro, Patricia Bellamy Brown of Swainsboro; brothers, Tommy Willard Bellamy Jr. and Tony Mark Bellamy (Donna) both of Swainsboro; several great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and many friends.

Graveside Service will be private on Sunday, August 22, 2021.

There will be an open visitation from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, August 22, 2021, at Chapman Funeral Home. Family will not be present during this time due to Covid safety.

Pallbearers are Eddie Lewis, Glen Chalker, Asa Garrett, Donny Garrett, Richard Daniels, and Charles Garrett.

Condolences may be expressed at www.chapmanfhofswainsboro.com

Chapman Funeral Home of Swainsboro is in charge of the arrangements for Mr. Owen Bellamy, Sr., 80, of Swainsboro.