Sidney Morris Highsmith

Sidney Morris Highsmith died in Jacksonville, Florida on Thursday, November 30, 2023. He was 97 years young. Born in Nahunta, Georgia, on February 12, 1926, he was the son of J. Morris Highsmith and Annie Laurie Porter Highsmith. William N. Highsmith was his brother. 

Mr. Highsmith was the youngest member of his class at Nahunta High School, class president, and salutatorian. Following graduation, he attended North Georgia College. A veteran of World War II, he attended the V-12 Navy College Training Program at Mercer University, the V-7 Naval Reserve Midshipmen's School at Northwestern University, and the Naval Training School for Storekeepers at Sampson, NY.  When the war ended, he was serving in the Philippines at P.T. Boat Base 17, Bobon Point, Samar. 

After being separated from service, Mr. Highsmith completed the requirements for his Bachelor of Arts degree from Piedmont College in Demorest, Georgia, and later earned a Bachelor of Theatre Arts degree, cum laude, from Pasadena (California) Playhouse College of Theatre Arts. 

After a brief acting career, he took what he expected to be a temporary job as a reservations agent for National Airlines in New York and remained through the merger with Pam Am, retiring after 35 years with the two carriers. In the meantime, he had progressed through the ranks at National to become New York Manager of Customer Relations, and then System Manager of Customer Relations at company headquarters in Miami, Florida. 

In his personal time, he enjoyed traveling, having traveled to all continents except Antarctica, most of them a number of times. During his later years, his brother and sister-in-law frequently traveled with him. 

Mr. Highsmith never married, and after retirement moved to Jacksonville to be near his brother and his brother’s family. He became a member of Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church and its Alert Sunday School Class, serving as class leader and pianist for the assembly of the Adult I classes. 

A memorial service will be held in the chapel of Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church on Saturday, February 3, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. His ashes will be buried between his parents’ graves in the Rob Lewis Cemetery north of Nahunta, Georgia, on Monday, February 5, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. Friends and family are invited to attend in person to celebrate his life. Persons interested in viewing the memorial service virtually can request a link at highsmithmemorial@gmail.com. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church, 4001 Hendricks Avenue, Jacksonville, Florida 32207.

Survivors include sister-in-law Barbara Howard Highsmith, nephews William Sidney Highsmith (Caroline), and Robert Phillip Highsmith (Susan), great-niece Laurie Jennifer Highsmith (Tim Bianconi) and great-nephew Robert Sidney Highsmith (the late Meri Ivy), and step-nephews Tony Gerardo (Genie) and Michael Gerardo (Shannon) as well as other family members. 

Arrangements by Hatcher Cremations in Jacksonville, Florida and Frye Funeral Home in Nahunta, Georgia.