Michael Leo Thigpen

After a years’-long battle with complications from transverse myelitis, Michael Skowron Thigpen, age 49, of Comfort Creek Nursing Care in Wadley and formerly of Hazlehurst, passed away peacefully at Doctors Hospital in Augusta on January 7, 2025.  Michael was the son of the late Harriet Susan Thigpen Skowron but at the age of five was adopted by his grandparents, the late Harry Edgar and Lottie Brown Thigpen.

Michael was also preceded in death by his adoptive sister, Mona June Thigpen of Hazlehurst; niece, Charlotte Marie Rogers of Colorado Springs, Colorado; and several cousins, including Deloras McGaha, Pat McGaha Rubke, Trish Rubke, Charles Thigpen and Amber Crawford. 

He is survived by his brother, Andrew Lawrence Thigpen and his wife Darlene of Milledgeville; his sister Mary Ann Anderson and her husband Roy of Hazlehurst; his brother, Alexander “A.J.” Greenlee, who is serving in the U.S. Navy; his niece Katie Anna Thigpen of Tifton; nephews Drew of Denver, Colorado, and Cal Rogers and his wife, Rebecca, and their son, Owen, of Box Elder, South Dakota; his two best friends forever, Angel Sizemore of Adairsville and Matt Drake of Hinesville; and several aunts and many cousins.

Michael was born December 29, 1975, in North Charleston, South Carolina, and lived with his mother in Buffalo, New York, until his adoption by his grandparents.  He was a member of Elizabeth Baptist Church of Hazlehurst.  He was a 1995 graduate of Jeff Davis High School and attended South Georgia College in Douglas before earning an associate’s degree in computer technology from South Georgia Technical College in Americus. He was living in Hazlehurst when he became ill from transverse myelitis and later moved to Comfort Creek.

Despite the complications from his illness, Michael was loving life and happy with his many friends and medical staff at Comfort Creek.  He was fiercely dedicated to all sports, especially football and wrestling, and particularly enjoyed cheering on the Georgia Bulldogs, Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta Braves.  He was passionate about reading books about geography and history, most notably U.S. presidents, vice-presidents, first ladies and New Mexico, a state he always wanted to visit.  Michael loved music, especially the band Metallica; was a true movie and documentary buff; and watched and played “Jeopardy!” almost every day with his friend, Matt, and sister, Mary Ann .  Most importantly, he stayed positive and upbeat, despite his myriad medical issues.

Pallbearers are Paul Yoder, Keith Kriner, Robin Thigpen, Martin Thigpen, Katie Anna Thigpen, Tim Burke and Matthew Spearman.

Honorary pallbearers are Angel Sizemore, Matt Drake, the staff and friends of Comfort Creek Nursing Care, Dywane Johnson, Carroll Walker, Wanda Marchant and Barbara Corbitt.

Services will be held in the chapel of Wainright-Parlor Funeral Home in Hazlehurst on Friday, January 10, at 11 a.m., with Rev. Keith Yawn officiating.  Visitation will be at 10 a.m., also at Wainright-Parlor.  He will be buried in the family plot at Eureka Baptist Church Cemetery in Hazlehurst immediately after the service. 

Wainright-Parlor Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.

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