William "Rhett" Harrison

William Rhett Harrison, 69, of Milledgeville, GA passed away on January 6, 2022, at Northside Hospital in Cumming, GA from heart failure. Rhett was born in Griffin, GA on July 26, 1952, to Claire (Short) and Frank Harrison, both deceased. He grew up in Florida where he became a lifelong, diehard Florida Gator fan. Rhett moved to Milledgeville in 1967, entered Georgia Military College in the ninth grade and played football through high school, graduating in 1970. Rhett loved and supported GMC the rest of his life, even though he said he had to walk the bullpen quite a bit. Rhett earned an Associate of Arts degree from Middle Georgia College and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Georgia. While at UGA, Rhett became a member of Sigma Chi and played intramural fraternity flag football. He was very proud to be a UGA alumni and patron to the end. The Sigma Chi brotherhood was also very important to Rhett, and he still had a strong bond with his fraternity brothers. After God, family and county, football and music were Rhett’s main passions. He loved the GMC, UGA and SEC teams, but his heart was his Florida Gators at The Swamp. He pulled for Georgia in all games except against Florida, then it was the Gators all the way. He had a dual GA/FL tag on his truck and caught heat locally when wearing his Gator clothing, but we all know he was celebrating in heaven when the Dawgs won the National Championship! Rhett also loved Southern Rock and worked as a booking agent during the genre’s heyday in Macon. His favorite band was the Allman Brothers and has Dwayne, Greg and Dickie hanging in his living room. When he was driving, he was listening to pop gospel or ABB, Marshall Tucker, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Wet Willie and all the boys from the South. Rhett’s career spanned a variety of industries. From booking bands after college, to teaching and coaching, to mobile home sales, and finally to establishing his own insurance agency in 2009, they all had one thing in common – people. Rhett loved people and loved to interact with people. He remained close to childhood, high school, and college friends his whole life. His opening line with everyone was “How are you doing”? He was genuinely concerned about the well-being of everyone he met. Rhett had many accomplishments he took pride in. He was particularly proud of his GMC team’s winning record when he was a defensive coordinator in the 1978 season. The first 5 games the defense gave up no points. Rhett was also an animal lover. He owned and showed Alaskan Malamutes and Siberian Huskies in the eighties, winning Best in Breed at the Tallahassee Kennel Club dog show in 1986. In his later years, Rhett was a proponent of animal rescue and took satisfaction in supporting rescue organizations. He loved feeding the squirrels and birds in his backyard. One squirrel would come and look at him through the window when he was out of food, and he really got a kick out of that. He was especially proud of his business he built from the ground up, his home and his marriage. He also reveled in the accomplishments of his children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews. God was number one in Rhett’s life. He became a member of the First Independent Methodist Church of Eatonton, GA in 1999. Rhett loved the church and was best friends with his pastor, Ron Smith. His strong faith sustained him through years of tough orthopedic surgeries, heart events, personal tragedies, and life challenges. Rhett had an intense love of family and is survived by his wife Mary; children Wylly Rhett, Anna Claire (husband Daniel), Tony (wife Jamie) and Jamie (husband Nate); grandchildren Liam, Annabelle, Bailey, Gracie, Emily, Drew and Mara; brother Billy Harrison (wife Edith), sister Rhonda Hincapie (husband Alfredo), brother Russell Harding (wife George), nieces and nephews Steven (wife Daphne), Kris (wife Jessica), Brittany (husband Robert), Sophia, Nick, Hunter and Sinclair, and new great-nephew Hudson (who wore the Ga Bulldog outfit uncle Rhett gave him for Christmas for the big game); rescue dogs Mary and Scooby; as well as many loved cousins from the Short and Harrison families. Rhett also leaves behind many, many friends, in-laws, neighbors, customers and acquaintances who will dearly miss his laughter and caring heart. A special celebration of life for Rhett is being planned and will be announced as soon as possible. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Georgia Military College of Milledgeville or First Independent Methodist Church of Eatonton. God Rest a Beautiful Soul.

William "Rhett" Harrison

July 26, 1952 - January 6, 2022