Pipes
Peachtree – A revered Cherokee County educator who was laid to rest last week is being remembered fondly by former students, family, friends and colleagues alike.
Dr. Roy Pipes – a former Cherokee County Schools superintendent as well as principal of White Church, Ranger Elementary, Andrews High and Murphy High schools – died April 27 at age 84. Pipes had also served as a teacher at Andrews and Murphy high schools, and later as school superintendent in Hawkinsville, Ga. He also taught as a professor at Piedmont College in Demorest, Ga.
Current Superintendent Jeana Conley shared her memories of Pipes. She said her first meeting with Pipes occurred when he was principal at Andrews High while she was a student there.
“He was a formidable and important figure in many lives – not just in Andrews, but in the entire county he also served as superintendent,” Conley said.
She said Pipes stayed in contact with her when she became superintendent.
“He took the time to visit me and give me advice, and even took me to Rotary,” Conley said. “I will miss him as both a mentor and an educator.”
After retirement, Pipes became an author, writing several books set in North Carolina. He was also active at Peachtree Memorial Baptist Church, where he served as a Sunday school director and teacher. In addition, he was a U.S. Navy veteran.
His son Alan Pipes remembered his father as a kind man with a passion for teaching.
“He was a good guy, easygoing,” he added. “He really liked teaching, and liked his students. He was a good
dad, pretty easygoing most of the time about like all dads. We got away with some things, and some things we didn’t.”
His other son, Jeffrey Pipes, also recalled his father’s passion for education.
“More than anything else, he was an educator and a teacher,” Jeffrey Pipes said. “He loved the education business and he loved teaching people.”
“I remember he kept trying to get me to become a teacher.”
Like his brother, Jeffrey Pipes also remembered his father as an easygoing man. However, he said his father was not afraid to say what was on his mind.
“The main thing my father gave me was a respect for people,” Jeffrey Pipes said. “He was very direct, very honest. He would’ve made a horrible politician because he just told people the truth.”
Jeffrey Pipes also thanked everyone who attended his father’s memorial Thursday.
“All the people told stories about him,” he said.