William L. "Pete" Pike, the founder of Pike Nurseries, died on Friday, February 28, 2020 at home surrounded by his loving family at the age of 90.
A native of Hogansville, GA, Pete Pike was a pioneer in Atlanta's lawn and garden industry. With the support of his wife, Jerri, the Pike's started their business in 1958 with three employees and a 200 ft. by 200 ft. location on Highway 41 in Marietta, GA. Together they built the company to become the largest independent nursery in the country. Today, Pike Nurseries has become an Atlanta institution, in metro Atlanta and Charlotte, North Carolina.
The secret to Pike Nurseries' success was Mr. Pike's uncomplicated, common sense business approach. In 1989 Atlanta Magazine described his business philosophy best when they talked about "his small town values and big city ideas".
Through the years, Mr. Pike garnered several well-deserved honors, including the Atlanta 100 Entrepreneur of the Year in 1991, and the Metro Atlanta Landscape and Turf Association's Pioneer Award. In 2005, Mr. Pike was presented the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from the Georgia Green Industry Association.
Simply, Pike was taught at childhood to be a giver, not a receiver. In that spirit, Pike contributed generously, to many charitable organizations, including the Chapels at Emory DeKalb Medical Centers in Decatur and Lithonia, GA, which were named in their honor, the Ford African Rain Forest at Zoo Atlanta, Atlanta's Ronald McDonald House, Smoke Rise Baptist Church, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and the Greater Atlanta Christian School in Norcross, Ga.
Mr. Pike was preceded in death by his parents, Leron Pike and Velma Wright Pike; wife, Geraldine Coleman Pike; sisters, Mary Pike Miller and Pat Rogers. Survivors include his son, William Anthony Pike of Commerce, GA; son, Gary Michael Pike, Sr and his wife Lynn of Marietta, GA; son, Randy Leron Pike of Atlanta, GA; daughter and son in law, Dana and Jeffrey Van Vlake of Peachtree Corners, GA; nine grandchildren, Gary Michael Pike, Jr, April Pike Zamor, Jennifer Lynn Pike, Michelle Lauren Pike, Kristen Leigh Pike, Olivia Marie Pike, Jared Pike Van Vlake, Jeffrey Brock Van Vlake and Alexis Caroline Van Vlake; three sisters, Earlene Pike Stamps of Tucker, Ga and Barbara Pike Edwards of the Villages, Florida; 9 great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Condolences may be sent or viewed at www.wagesfuneralhome.com. Tom M. Wages Funeral Service, LLC, A Family Company, 3705 Highway 78 West, Snellville, GA 30039 (770-979-3200) has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Source: GGIA