Smiley Ernest Grow

Smiley Ernest "Ernie" Grow of Blakely died Friday, May 16, 2025, at South East Alabama Medical Center. Funeral services will be Monday, May 19, 2025, at 6:00 PM at Colquitt Free Will Baptist Church with Rev. Kent Barwick and Rev. William Smith officiating. Interment to follow with Military Honors at Eternal Rest Memorial Gardens with Josh Grow, Jonathan Grow, Chad Spann, Garrett Bridges, Darrel Jordan and Brent Shear serving as active pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Micah Conoly, Richard Henley, David Bean, Steve Horne, Dewain Morgan, Danny Ray Lovering, Jerry Nalls, Curtis Nalls, Johnny Nalls, Johnny Miller and Mark Nalls. Visitation will be Monday, May 19, 2025, from 5:00-6:00 PM at Colquitt Free Will Baptist Church.

Ernie was the retired owner of Moby Dick Restaurant in Colquitt. He served his country in the U.S. Navy, was a 1972 graduate of South West Georgia Academy in Damascus (First Graduating Class) and was of the Free Will Baptist Faith.

He is survived by his wife, Genta Grow of Blakely, GA; two sons, Chase (Morgan) Grow of Oxford GA, and Joshua Grow of Monroe GA; one stepson, Micah (Kayla) Conley of Iron City, GA; two daughters, Jennifer Brooks and Amber (Brent) Shear both of Tallahassee, FL; two step daughters, Merredith Conoly of Colquitt, GA, and Camille Davis of Blakely, GA; ten grandchildren, Makenna Brooks, Caitlyn Brooks, Alivia Grow, Paisley Shear, Brayden Shear, Cohen Grow, Chason Grow, Caroline Grow, Mason Conoly, and Olivia Conoly; His mother, Merlene Grow of Colquitt, GA; one brother Jimbo (Rebecca) Grow of Colquitt, GA; and one sister Merri (Darrel) Jordan of Colquitt, GA. He was preceded in death by his father, Will Smiley Grow.