Demorest mayor honors late councilman John Popham, calls him ‘a lifelong servant of the city’

DEMOREST — Demorest Mayor Jerry Harkness is remembering longtime city councilman John Popham as a defining figure in the city’s modern history, crediting him with decades of leadership, infrastructure development and public service following his death at age 87.

In a two-page letter provided to Now Georgia on May 19, Harkness described Popham as a man whose “fingerprints are found all across this city and far beyond it,” noting his 44 years of service on the Demorest City Council from 1975 to 2019.

“John loved Demorest deeply, and he proved that love not with words alone, but through decades of faithful service, hard work, sacrifice, and leadership,” Harkness wrote.

Harkness said Popham remained a steady presence through decades of municipal challenges, including infrastructure growth, rising costs and changing community needs.

“He was a fearless defender of the City of Demorest and a man who believed that public service was not about recognition, but responsibility,” the mayor wrote.

A central focus of the tribute was Popham’s role in building and expanding the region’s water infrastructure. Harkness credited him as one of the key figures behind the development of water lines and systems that continue to serve thousands of residents across Habersham County and surrounding areas.

“The water system that serves so many families, businesses, and communities today did not happen by accident,” Harkness wrote. “It was built by men like John Popham, who had the vision to see what was needed and the grit to get it done.”

Beyond his work on the council, Harkness highlighted Popham’s early involvement in public safety, including helping establish Demorest’s first fire department and serving as a volunteer firefighter.

“He showed up when people needed help. That was John,” Harkness wrote. “If there was work to be done, he was not standing on the sidelines giving advice, he was usually already in the middle of it.”

Harkness also reflected on personal memories of Popham working community events, including grilling at the city’s annual Independence Day celebration.

“That may seem like a small thing compared to building water systems or serving 44 years in office, but to me, it says everything about who he was,” he wrote.

The mayor described Popham as an “old-school public servant,” calling him “strong, direct, dependable” and “not easily moved,” while emphasizing his commitment to family, faith and community.

Harkness noted Popham’s service in the United States military, saying that sense of duty carried through every aspect of his life.

“Whether serving his nation, his city, his church, or his family, John understood that commitment meant showing up year after year, even when it was difficult,” he wrote.

He also said conversations with Popham over the years provided firsthand accounts of Demorest’s growth and early infrastructure development.

“Those stories were more than memories, they were lessons in leadership, sacrifice, and love for a hometown,” Harkness wrote.

Harkness closed the letter by saying Demorest is “better because John Popham lived here” and credited him with leaving a lasting legacy in the city’s water system and civic institutions.

“True leadership is about service, sacrifice, courage, and leaving your community better than you found it,” he wrote. “John did exactly that.”