Mr. James Nathan Formby, age 67, of the Flint Hill community, passed away on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, at a local healthcare facility.
Nathan was born in Rome, Georgia, on April 26, 1957, son of the late James Howell Formby and the late Marie Smith Formby. He was a graduate of Pepperell High School. As a young man, he played basketball, and won several trophies in dirt bike competitions, demonstrating his love for speed, skill, and precision. His natural ability to understand machines extended beyond racing and became a lifelong passion.
Nathan worked for over 32 years as a millwright for General Motors, first at the Lakewood Assembly Plant, and later at the Doraville Plant until retiring with its closure in 2008. He was also a proud member of the United Auto Workers Union. Alongside his work at GM, he earned a degree in HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) and often worked jobs for many of those in the community. Though he did not hold an engineering degree, Nathan was widely regarded for his deep mechanical knowledge, and many sought his advice when something needed to be fixed or figured out.
Above all, Nathan had a strong faith in God and a servant’s heart. He was constantly looking for ways to use the skills he was given to help others. Nathan enjoyed taking trips to serve those in need, several with “Habitat for Humanity” and a mission trip to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. He was a long-time member of Flint Hill Baptist Church and has now found eternal peace in heaven.
Survivors include his children, Bradley “Brad” Formby (Amie), Queensland, Australia, and Jessica Formby Heins (Mitchell), Atlanta; his grandson, James Liam Formby; sister, Marsha Formby Barnes (Tony); and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 8, 2025, at Flint Hill Baptist Church with the Rev. Dr. Chris Johnson officiating and the Rev. Don Spears, Brad Formby and Chris Goodwin delivering the eulogies. Interment will follow in the Flint Hill Baptist Church Cemetery.
The family will receive friends on Saturday from 12:00 p.m. until service time at Flint Hill Baptist Church.
*All obituaries are submitted by family and friends of the deceased.
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