Robert Sidney ‘Robby’ Aiken
Robert Sidney Aiken—Robby, to friends and family—was born in Monticello and Jasper County on October 23, 1954, three years after Jasper Memorial Hospital opened its doors, and where he arrived.
His parents were Robert Ray Aiken and Louise Hooper Aiken, both of whom preceded him in death, as did his older sister, Brenda Ray Aiken Oulsnam.
After graduating from Piedmont Academy, he spent time at Georgia Southern University and worked briefly in Savannah. The majority of his life, however, was spent in Jasper County on family property, where he lived and hunted each fall.
He died peacefully, at home, as he had hoped, after a 20-year struggle with congestive heart failure. At his side were his wife, Sharon, his niece, Amanda Oulsnam Stefanakos, and close family friend, Sue Whitaker. Robby was 69 years old.
A country boy all his life, Robby loved the outdoors. After his marriage, he worked briefly for Georgia-Pacific, but left to take down trees rather than process them.
He worked for Farren’s Tree Service and Pike’s Tree Service for over 10 years, assisting in the companies’ clean up efforts in various locations, including Charleston, S.C., after Hurricane Hugo struck in 1989.
Deciding he would rather remain in-county, his next job was for Georgia Department of Transportation, followed by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources at Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center, which was by far his favorite job.
While his job title was “Fisheries Technician,” he sometimes told people he simply “cut the grass,” which he did, along with operating most of the large equipment at Charlie Elliott.
Like most people, he responded to the “duties and responsibilities” required of him, whether it was helping get out a bulldozer that someone else got stuck, taking down a huge oak tree near a building, replenishing water and ice in coolers on Jakes’ Day, or simply cleaning a bathroom at a pond so a guest of Charlie Elliott would not encounter anything offensive.
Due to his heart condition and disability, Robby was forced out of his job at Charlie Elliott before he was ready to retire. That did not stop him from working outside at home, playing golf with his friends, hunting in the fall—which also necessitated creating food plots in the heat of summer, and going to the lake or Florida Keys when he could.
Most recently, he’d rediscovered his love of fishing. In all these activities, the real key to the enjoyment for Robby was friends. If a friend asked a favor, Robby’s automatic answer was always: “I’ll do it if I can.” The “it” may have been driving a few states away to fetch a car or car parts or counties away to plow a garden spot or help someone move—more than just once.
Henry David Thoreau once said, “The most I can do for my friend is simply to be his friend.” Very lucky was the man or woman who called Robby Aiken his or her friend. He helped both his wife and son as he could, as they became involved in school activities, hauling decorations for a prom or props for a play. He was always willing and capable.
While he worked and helped as much as he could and enjoyed the outdoors, he did enjoy one indoor game: poker. He was lucky to find Third Base Bar and Grill in Conyers and for at least 15 years or more, Robby made it to at least one—sometimes two—games each week.
Like everyone else, he found the winning was fun, but making friends, seeing them each week, sharing their stories—that was what drew Robby to the table. Robby cared about people who cared to share their lives with him.
Third Base was also where he found Georgia Tech football fans on rare occasions—and what a rare delight that was. It was where his heart broke as he and his friends watched the Falcons lose the Super Bowl. If he had found someone who enjoyed scuba-diving as much as he did at Third, and had had his “druthers,” this obituary would have come to you from the Florida Keys.
Robby is survived by his wife, Sharon, his son, Robert Andrew and his wife, Lydia, step-daughter, Cadance, niece Amanda Stefanakos and her husband James and family, and Donnie Oulsman, wife Tasha and family; also, by his brother-in-law, Don Oulsnam and his partner, Josephine Cargile. He is also survived by friends, too many to list, many of whom became a “chosen” family. As his daughter-in-law remarked last week, “He was a man worth missing.”
His memorial service will be held at Monticello First United Methodist Church at 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 8, 2024, with visitation one hour prior to the service, from 1 p.m. until 2 p.m. in the sanctuary.
There will be a wake and poker game held in his honor at Third Base Bar and Grill, in Conyers, on Sunday, June 9, 2024, at 3 p.m.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Monticello First United Methodist Church, 651 College Street, Monticello, Ga. 31064; or the ML&J Fund for Children and Youth.
Jordan Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Visit its website at www.jordanfunerahomemonticello.com.