Joseph Rawlings

Dr. Joseph (“Bo”) Douglas Rawlings, age 85, made a peaceful transition to eternal rest in heaven on March 27th, 2024 in Thomasville, Georgia.
He was born June 1, 1938, the son of Douglas and Martha Tinnell Rawlings in Waverly, TN. “Bo” grew up spending summers without shoes, dutifully completing a 4:30 am paper route, playing croquet, throwing horseshoes, and might have once released a possum and frogs in his mother’s kitchen. He was blessed with two loving sisters, Elise and Jeanette. Early in life, Joe was selected by his peers for leadership. He was president of his class from 6th -11th grade, having moved from Dickson High to Gallatin, where he was selected vice president in his first year with the class. During high school, Joe was the central character in The Challenge of the Cross, a production of Methodist Youth Fellowship, which traveled throughout middle Tennessee.
He attended Peabody College at Vanderbilt from 1956-1960, where he was a member of the Student Christian Association and Phi Chi Fraternity. He was voted Mr. Peabody his senior year. He always had a deep, innate desire to care for people and after one year working for Ford Motor Company, he attended UTC Memphis for medical school. After training for one year at Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga, he was the primary physician in charge of Naval Air Station Cecil Field in Jacksonville, FL.
In 1968, when he moved to Thomasville, Joe Rawlings began a legacy of service to the community. Few have ever enjoyed their profession as much as he. His practice of medicine was more of a lifestyle than a job, often treating people in his driveway or after hours. Bo was the embodiment of the “country doctor”, performing over 4000 house calls during his career and never denying service to anyone. His ability to relate and care for people from all walks of life was a unique gift to all around him. His office became a haven for people wanting to be treated and heard. He dearly loved his staff, who were a family and culture of attention to the individual needs of each person, not just their medical problems. He was a gifted diagnostician, but his most impressive quality was to listen and see the person in front of him, often repeating the prayer and asking to “see what I was looking at and hear what I was listening to.” Fond is an understatement to describe Bo’s love for stories. With an often busy waiting room, he would never hesitate to spend time with people sharing stories about family and fishing.
He enjoyed a regular Thursday golf game with lifelong friends and in past years has found joyful fellowship in every other week dinners. Joe Rawlings enjoyed his five sons with enduring enthusiasm, sharing stories with all who would listen of pride in each of their accomplishments. It was the honor of her life for his wife of 45 years, Robbie, to love and care for him. She was by his side continuously as he passed at home. Bo loved people, and he considered it a joy and privilege to know and care for so many.
He was predeceased in death by his sister Anna “Jeanette” (Ed) Nall. He is survived by his wife Roberta “Robbie” Rawlings, sister Barbara Elise (Larry Joe) Scott, sons, Jeffrey (Christy) Rawlings, Stephen (Lori) Rawlings, Lee (Lindsey) Rawlings, Blake Rawlings and Tyler Rawlings. His grandchildren Sydney Ellen Rawlings, Jake Rawlings, Will Rawlings, Emily Rawlings, Ben Rawlings, Bo Rawlings (8) and Madeline Rawlings (6).
A memorial service will be held at Allen & Allen Funeral Home Celebration of Life Chapel in Thomasville, GA on April 1st at 4:00pm. His family will greet friends prior to the service from 3:00-4:00PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be given to the charity of your choice.