by Janet Clary
Members of the Georgia Council of the Blind were saddened to learn of the death of John Brockington on September 24, 1999. John, who was one of GCB’s most dedicated members, was diagnosed with cancer of the liver several months before his death.
John Bailey Brockington was born in Waverly, Ga. on February 29, 1944. He was educated at an elementary school in his home county, at the Georgia Academy for the Blind in Macon, and at a high school in Woodbine, Ga. Soon after finishing school, John trained to work as a vendor in the Georgia Co-op program, and became a member of the Georgia chapter of the Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America.
In 1969 John joined the Georgia Federation of the Blind (now the Georgia Council of the Blind). His local chapter memberships included Macon, Atlanta, and the South Metro Council, of which he was a charter member. John served as president of the South Metro Council, first vice president of the state organization, and member of several state and national committees. The loss of his residual vision in the late 1970s did not deter him from displaying his kindness and generosity in giving assistance to other blind people. He was often prevailed upon for blindness- related information or for arranging transportation to meetings and other events. During the 1987 GCB convention held in St. Marys, John negotiated with local officials concerning the placement of braille signs along the nature trail on Cumberland Island.
As president of GCB from 1994-98, John served as delegate to the American Council of the Blind convention. As national delegate, he attended all nominating committee and affiliate presidents meetings, and was always present to announce the delegate vote for GCB during the roll call. John served as convention coordinator for eight years, as treasurer of the Georgia Academy for the Blind Alumni Association, as vice chairperson of the Advisory Council of the Georgia Sensory Rehabilitation Center, as member of a steering committee to work with the Division of Rehabilitation Services to restore specialized counseling to the blind population, and as torch bearer for the Paralympics as it passed through Macon. He was also a member of the Macon Mayor's Commission for Disability Issues, where he served as chairperson of the Environmental Barriers Committee.
John received the George Card Award for volunteerism from ACB in 1995. He received the prestigious Walter R. McDonald Award for outstanding community service to blind people from GCB in 1993.
John Brockington will always be sorely missed by GCB members.