Doug P. Roper Jr.

Mr. Doug P. Roper, Jr., age 75, passed away after an extended illness on Thursday, December 25, 2025, at his home surrounded by his family.  He was born in Spartanburg, South Carolina, living in various South Carolina cities before moving to Tifton, Georgia in 1967.  He was a 1968 graduate of Tift County High School where he was a member of the golf team.  He attended Clemson University and was later a graduate of Control Data Institute in Atlanta.  Shortly after graduating from CDI, he began a twenty-year career with Piggly Wiggly Southern where he eventually became the Director of MIS.  In 1992, after the buyout of Piggly Wiggly, he remained in Vidalia and took his MIS experience to Brilad Oil, later Woodland Oil, and used his skills to shift those companies from paper to digital technology.  He was an active member of the church he loved, Vidalia Cornerstone Church, where he served on multiple committees and was instrumental in starting the Cornerstone Children’s Center.  He served the City of Vidalia as a Recreation Department Board of Director for fourteen years, as well as one term on the Planning and Zoning Committee.  All his life, Mr. Roper was a sports enthusiast, coaching and mentoring young athletes in baseball.  His hobby was playing golf where two of his highlights were having the opportunity to play Augusta National Golf Club and Ohoopee Match Club.  Above all else, Mr. Roper cherished time spent with family and picking up pinecones while manicuring his yard.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Douglas Palmer Roper, Sr. and Betty Jean Burns Roper.

Mr. Roper is survived by his wife of 53 years, Linda F. Roper of Vidalia; three children, Heather Roper Stanley and husband Brian of New Branch, Doug P. Roper, III and wife Marly, and Brooke Roper Davis and husband Mike, all of Vidalia; 13 grandchildren, Breanne, Roper, Braiden, Bryson, Brantley Grace, Scarlett, Parker, Stone, Palmer, Cutter, Collier, Landon, and Durham; one sister, Candice Frederick and husband Scott of Tifton; one brother Tom Roper and wife Dianne of Rock Hill, South Carolina; and several nieces and nephews.

His family extends heartfelt gratitude to Zykia (Ziggy) Thrower, Community Hospice and our community for supporting his journey in countless ways.

The funeral service will be held on Friday afternoon, January 2, 2026, at 3:00 at Vidalia Cornerstone Church with Reverend David Blalock, Reverend Jim Smith, and Pastor Jose Caraballo officiating.  Interment will follow at Lakeview Memorial Gardens.

The family will receive friends at Vidalia Cornerstone Church Activity Center on Friday from 12:00 noon until just prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations to Vidalia Cornerstone Church, PO Box 150, Vidalia, GA 30475, or Community Hospice Foundation, PO Box 2277, Vidalia, GA 30475, or Vidalia Recreation Department, PO Box 191, Vidalia, GA 30475.

Ronald V. Hall Funeral Home of Vidalia is in charge of arrangements.

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