Dr. Richard Beverly Best

Dr. Richard Beverly Best, D.V.M, M.S., 71, born August 19th, 1946, of Marietta, Georgia, peacefully passed away Sunday morning, August 12, 2018 in his home after having a lovely evening with his friends and family. He is finally home in Heaven for his birthday with friends, family, and animals rushing the heavenly gates to greet him. Dr. Best’s love of animals was equaled only by relishing in his children and grandchildren, and his delight in lampooning the excesses of his friends’ existences. His joy in the rhythms of nature, with the jousting of hummingbirds, the savoring of his garden’s first tomato, to the first leaping of a retriever from a johnboat, echoed his zest for the potential in life. Yet in surreptitiously lacing adult beverages on a camping trip to convince the micturaters of their advanced terminally ill states, to dishing up cat food salsa for self-styled epicureans, associating with Dr. Best meant jettisoning pretense and hauteur. He leaves a legacy of integrity, laughter, whit, perseverance, and joy in the human condition. He had a compassion for animals and devoted his career to helping them. He enjoyed learning, fly-fishing, hunting, traveling, organic gardening, cooking, following UGA football, and spending time with all friends and family. He was an avid reader and he was constantly staying abreast of current novels and veterinary literature. He spent many hours of each week donating his time to the care of abused and homeless animals, often nurturing them back to health at his own expense and then placing them with loving families and homes. He pioneered animal abuse laws by testifying on behalf of the abused animals and helped facilitate the prosecution of the first felony animal cruelty conviction in the state of Georgia. He devoted many hours to the Secret Service, GBI, FBI, Cobb and surrounding counties K9 officers and the honorable handlers. Dr. Best was born in South Georgia to Lieutenant Robert Dale Best, of the 498th Bombardment Squadron, POW in the Marshall Islands, and a highly decorated B25 bomber pilot and, his mother, Thena Holt Evans, of Sandersville, GA, who studied art at Wesleyan College and the University of Georgia as her generations before her. She was one of the original members of the DOR and ADPi at UGA. Dr. Best earned his doctorate from the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Georgia before earning a double Masters of Science in Wildlife Diseases and Parasitology. He graduated with his double Bachelors of Science during his undergraduate degrees in biology and microbiology. He has instilled the legacy of learning and education for his children, grandchildren, and those to come. He remains a cornerstone of the Presidents’ Club of the University of Georgia. He loved taking care of his family, friends, and pets. Dr. Best is pre-deceased by his son, Richard Daniel Best. He is survived by his daughters, Laura Rene Elizabeth Best and Ashleigh Anne Best from his years of marriage with Linda Galt Best; and grandsons, Jack Holt Duffy and Evan Kristopher Duffy; and nieces and nephews; and all of his four-legged children. A service in his honor will take place on Saturday, August 25, 2018 at Mayes Ward-Dobbins at 2:00pm with Marsha Waters eulogizing. A bagpipe playing Amazing Grace will lead guests to A Life Celebration that will follow directly after, with victuals, libations, and divertissements, at The Strand Theater on the Marietta Square until 11:00pm. The family has requested to continue Dr. Best’s legacy to save animals so in lieu of flowers, please help save a life and make donations to the University of Georgia, College of Veterinary Medicine Support Fund at https://vet.uga.edu/giving/fundlisting

Dr. Richard Beverly Best

August 19, 1946 - August 12, 2018