Obituary of Herbert J. Hightower

With special mightiness, Herbert James Hightower reached the age of ninety before succumbing to kidney failure. On Monday, October 25, 2021 he died peacefully at home among family. Herbert was affectionately known as 'honey', 'dad', 'pop-pop', 'brother', 'Herb', 'Herbie', and "you ole plug" by family and friends. He was born on August 3, 1931, to the late Isaac and Cora Hightower in West Palm Beach Florida. He is predeceased by his wife, Dorothy whom he married in 1951 and his daughter, Doretha. Raised in a blended family, Herbert was one of twelve children. He is predeceased by brothers: Edgar, Willie Lee, William, Larry and John; and sisters: Bertha, Daisy Lee, Viola and Mercedes. Herbert is survived by his daughters, Patricia Butts (Robert) of AZ and Sheila Gibbs of NJ; His sister, Rose Hightower and brother, Henry Hightower (Linda) of PA; three grandchildren, Clayton Smith (Neftali) of AZ, Tanisha Price of DE and Jason Gibbs of NJ; seven great grandchildren: Jada, Koby, Aaron, Tiffany, Dwight, Deyonna of DE and Seth of AZ; and a host of cousins, nieces and nephews. Herbert worked for many years as a construction laborer in PA but spent his last 16 working years at Ancora State Hospital in the Sanitation Department until he retired in July 1993. Herbert studied the bible with Jehovah's Witnesses in 1956 in PA and was baptized together with his wife Dorothy in July 1958 at Yankee Stadium in NY. During the next 63 years, Herbert remained an active servant of Jehovah and was associated with the Woodland congregation in PA. In 1969 Herbert and his family moved to New Jersey and he has been a member of the Hammonton Congregation ever since where he served as a publisher, ministerial servant and elder over the years. He was known for his amazing ability to quote scriptures with ease and could tell you exactly where to find them in the bible. It was not uncommon to find him engaged in quiz-like conversations about the bible with young ones, strengthening his faith and theirs. Our brother, friend and father will be greatly missed, but we look forward to seeing him again in the promised paradise. (Luke 23:43)