DALTON — Mr. Joseph W. “Toby” Reid Jr., 61, of Dalton, Ga., passed away peacefully Wednesday, March 7, 2018, at Hamilton Medical Center following a brief battle with cancer.

He was born Feb. 13, 1957, in Reading, Pa., but his family roots go back to South Georgia —  to Americus, Plains, Leslie, and Desoto. Toby was preceded in death by his mother, Alice Bagley Reid.

Toby is survived by his father Joseph W. “Toby” Reid Sr. of Dalton; sister and brother-in-law Marianne and David Blaylock of Marietta; niece Abigail and her husband Mik Todd of Atlanta; nephew David Andrew Blaylock of Athens; great-nieces Savannah May Todd and Audrey Carole Todd.

After moving to Dalton with his family in 1960, Toby spent the rest of his life here. He graduated from Dalton High School in 1975, and as an avid golfer, he played on the high school golf team for four years and on the Junior Masters Tour. Toby’s favorite golf companion was his father, and one of their best memories together was the day Toby shot a 31 — with five straight 3’s —on the front nine at the Dalton Country Club. He attended Dalton Junior College, Georgia State University and the University of Georgia.

Toby enjoyed the simple pleasures of life. He dearly loved his family and regularly traveled with his father to visit home in South Georgia. He made many great friendships at Dalton’s Greater Works over the years. He also loved drinking a Coca-Cola, reading his Bible and looking at the beautiful flowers and butterflies in the family’s backyard garden (perhaps the biggest in Dalton) that his father and friend Curtis Williams have tended the last 25 years to remember Alice.

The family received friends from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, March 8, at Love Funeral Home in Dalton. Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 10 at Desoto United Methodist Church in Desoto, Ga. Please dress casually in remembrance of Toby as he always loved a good sweatshirt. Toby will be remembered for many things, but especially for his great smile, laugh, and “Lord Jesus” handshake.

The family asks that flowers please be omitted and memorials be made to Dalton’s Greater Works, P.O. Box 6, Dalton GA 30722 or to Dalton First United Methodist Church, 500 N. Thornton Ave. Dalton, GA 30720.

You may sign the online guest book and share your own special thoughts and memories by visiting www.greghancockfuneralchapel.com.

Greg Hancock Funeral Chapel is in charge of these arrangements.