St. Simons Island, GA - Mr. Alan "Rocky" Ponders, age 74, of St. Simons Island, GA passed away on Monday, December 22, 2025. Rocky was born December 8, 1951, in Chatsworth, GA.

Rocky began developing the work ethic that would be the foundation of all he accomplished while hauling coal alongside his father, his first and most influential mentor. While still in high school, he and his beloved brother Bill worked tirelessly mowing lawns saving up to purchase the land where their parents would eventually build the only home they ever owned where they would spend the rest of their lives. After graduating from Murray County High School, Rocky began his career managing grocery and discount stores around the Southeast. He eventually went on to a career in textile recycling where he worked his way up starting as a Hyster driver before moving into management and eventually becoming Vice President and a partial owner. He was always incredibly thankful to his friend and mentor Al Goldberg for the opportunity. Rocky became a pioneer in the field expanding post-industrial and post-consumer carpet recycling through innovations in process technology, equipment design, and product development. He went on to partner with Jack Weitz and Al's son Rob Goldberg to found a synthetic fiber cushion company utilizing recycled synthetic fibers with Jack at the helm. Jack and Rob were great partners, but more importantly they were wonderful friends.

Upon his retirement, he moved to St. Simons Island with his wife Kay where he enjoyed the slower pace of life, often seen buzzing around East Beach on his golfcart with his much-loved dog Blush. There, he channeled much of his free time into overseeing the construction of their new home. After its completion, he turned his attention to his father's knife collection, spending endless hours restoring the collection and becoming an avid collector in his own right. Rocky was also a lifelong lover of bass fishing and had many fond memories of days spent on Lake Allatoona and trips to Florida with many a friend but always with his brother-in-law and dear friend Bob Finnemore. Rocky enjoyed giving back to others, especially children, throughout his life. In retirement, he became particularly involved as a volunteer, while his health allowed him, and contributor with the Backpack Buddies program through Christ Church Frederica where he was a member. Most of all, Rocky loved his family. While he loved being "Rocky," nothing brought him greater joy than becoming "Big Rock" to his grandchildren. Rocky always believed that if one was good, two or three had to be better, and Westerns and dessert should be consumed daily. His presence in a room was never easily ignored, and his absence is even more profound.

Rocky was preceded in death by his parents Willie Ponders, Sr. and Betty Ponders, brother Willie "Bill" Ponders, Jr.; brother-in-law Bob Finnemore; father-in-law and mother-in-law Bobby and Pat Richards; and sister-in-law Julia Richards Cochran.

Survivors include his wife of 45 years Kay Richards Ponders of St. Simons Island, GA; daughters and sons-in-law Rebecca and Divine Ofori-Amankwah of Bainbridge Island, WA, and Hannah and Jack Feist of Cincinnati, OH; and grandsons Thade Gradke and Rocky Feist. Much to his regret, Rocky will not be here to welcome a granddaughter and grandson in the coming months. He is also survived by his sister Brenda Finnemore; brother and sister-in-law Mike and Sheri Ponders; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Jan and Duane Smith; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Bobby and Anne Richards; brother-in-law Ricky Cochran; and many treasured nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.

A funeral service to celebrate the life of Rocky Ponders will be held, Saturday, January 3, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at St. Mark's Episcopal Church (901 West Emery Street, Dalton, GA).

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Backpack Buddies program through Christ Church Frederica (Select Backpack Program under Fund at https://onrealm.org/ccfssi/-/form/give/now) to help provide meals to children in need or to any charity benefitting children of your choosing.

Peeples Funeral Home & Crematory of Chatsworth, GA has been entrusted with the arrangements for Mr. Alan "Rocky" Ponders.