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Granville E. ‘George’ Messick, Tops Bar B Q owner

September 30, 2016

Granville E. ''George" Messick passed away Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. A native of Georgetown, he was born May 8, I 932, the youngest son, and one of six siblings, of the
late George H. and Thelma Jane Burks Messick.

George served in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Compton and was honorably discharged in 1954. George held several food service positions among such entities as Howard Johnson, Greyhound and Holiday Inn. He decided to make Memphis, Tenn., his home and in 1964 J. W. Lawson, the founder of Tops BarB Q, hired George to manage his six Tops stores. Upon Mr. Laws’ retirement in 1984 George bought Tops Bar B Q Inc. and with the heJp of his manager, George "Monty" Montague, who had worked with him for 41 years, the business has continued to grow along with the number of stores. To date there are 15 Tops BarB Q restaurants, not just in Memphis but in Arkansas and Mississippi as well.
Eugenia "Genie" Lauderdale Messick, George's wife of 53 years, survives him. Both Genie and Monty assure their more than 150 employees that Tops Bar B Q will continue with quality and
service to uphold its legacy as the oldest and only independent barbecue chain in the Mid-South. Also surviving George are his sisters Margaret M. Horsey of Georgetown and Martha E. M.
Trimper of Ocean City, Md., and Jensen Beach, Fla. Predeceasing him are sisters Evelyn Messick, Thelma Jane M. White (Murray), Eleanor M. Johnson (W. Layton); older brother Hugh W. Messick (Betty); nephew Jeffrey A. White; and great-niece Lauren Johnson; loving nieces and nephews also surviving include John Messick, Sue Quarterson, Lyn Horsey, Jane Clendaniel, Stephen White, Philip White, George Johnson, Michael Johnson, Sharon Johnson and Rebecca Dennis. Also leaving to honor their uncle are seven great-nieces and -nephews.
The Memphis Funeral Home, 5599 Poplar Avenue, is the location for a visitation period from 5 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 5, and a eulogy given by George Montague Thursday, Oct. at 2 p.m. The eulogy will be followed by food and feJlowship on site. (A private memorial service will be held by the Messick family in Delaware at a later date.)
Cremation is at the request of the deceased. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis TN 38105.

 

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