George Mason Pickin, age 88, died September 11, 2023 in North Charleston, SC. Mason was the "New Year's Baby" born in Buckroe (Elizabeth City County, later Hampton), VA just after midnight on January 2, 1935. He was also a resident of Chuckatuck (Suffolk), VA (1963-1994); McClellanville, SC (1995-1997); and Alvin, SC (1997-2023).

Mason was predeceased by his beloved wife, Kay (Kathryn Particia Olney); his parents, Raymond and Anna Belle (Carr) Pickin; and sisters, Raybelle P. Link Wilson, Elizabeth Irene "Betty/Beans" P. Creekmore, Virginia Ann Pickin (infant), and Mary Ann P. Pearce; and nephew, Gregory Paul Link.     He is survived by his devoted daughter and son-in-law, Madelyn P. and John L. Lawrence, Jr. of Alvin, SC; most cherished granddaughter, Courtney A. Lawrence and her Fiancé George A. Tetanich;  step-great-grandson, William, of Mount Pleasant, SC; brother and sister-in-law; John R. Pickin, Sr. and Jean H. Pickin of Buckroe (Hampton), VA; and 19 nieces and nephews.

Mason was always very proud of his family's history, as his mother was a direct descendant of Chief Powhatan through Pocahantas, and was a descendant of the earliest English Settlers at Jamestown.  In his youth, Mason worked on his grandfather's Bay View Dairy and his father's farm. He was also a fixture working at Pickin's Market (1948-1970) in Buckroe.  By age 13, he could be found delivering groceries on his bicycle, stacking Coke bottles to the roof, delivering beer to the segregated Bay Shore bars, and using his incredible sweet tooth as the buyer of candy for the store. His favorites were Oreos and black Jelly Beans.

As an adult, Mason worked as a heavy equipment operator, and later managed his own farm for 35 years, raising livestock and growing produce and small grains. He continued contributing to his family's businesses by supplying fresh produce to the store from his own farm in Chuckatuck and working as a Fire Suppression Specialist at Pickin's Fire Extinguishers, where he also was a manufacturer's certified technician for several fire truck and fire suppression companies.

Mason proudly served in the US Army, achieving the rank of Sergeant (E5 Specialist), where he was a Combat & Construction Engineer, Demolitions Expert, and Expert Marksman. He was stationed in Germany for 16 months, accompanied by his loving wife. During which time, he came to love playing Canasta and drinking beers, as he built his beer stein collection.

Mason proudly carried on the family tradition, becoming (at least) a third-generation fireman. He was an active volunteer firefighter for an incredible 67 years (1950-2017)  during which time, he earned Life Memberships in the Buckroe Beach Vol. Fire Co., the Chuckatuck Vol. Fire Dept., and the Alvin Rural Vol. Fire Dept. He was also involved with the Phoebus (VA) Fire Vol. Fire Dept. and the Awendaw-McClellanville (SC) Fire District. Mason held various ranks in three departments - from Engineer through Assistant Chief. He also served as a Training Officer and Board Member in multiple departments. Over the decades, his responsibilities further included involvement and oversight of equipment, truck design, & purchasing, among other areas. He was one of the first certified Training Officers (I & II) in the country, and held numerous other specialty certifications. As part of his training efforts, he established and coached the Evolutions Contests Team at Chuckatuck. However, his proudest personal accomplishments were being named Alvin's Fireman of the Year in 2004 and again in 2007 (at ages 69 & 72). He was passionate about firefighter safety and training, and mentored many who became life-long volunteers themselves or chose professional firefighting careers. Mason established and conducted Fire Prevention Week presentations at Chuckatuck area schools, which virtually eliminated fires in the area caused by children playing with matches. His dedication extended beyond his local communities and included membership and leadership positions in the Nansemond County then City of Suffolk, VA Fire Commission; Tidewater, VA Fireman's Association; Virginia State Firefighters Association; Old Dominion Historical Fire Society; and the Society for the Preservation and Appreciation of Antique Motor Fire Apparatus in America (SPAAMFAA).

Mason also volunteered for many years with the Suffolk 4-H Equine Club (including 4-H City Council) and the Girl Scouts in Chuckatuck, where he was one of the first approved male Troop Leaders in the country. His favorites were Thin Mints.

He was always willing to do all within his power to help others; and never considered the self-sacrifice of it.  He will be fondly remembered for his incredible memory for telling stories, and wealth of knowledge that he shared with all he knew.  He was an avid collector, creator, and piddler. He loved history, models, Marklin trains, fire trucks, antique cars, and tractors. He also had an amazing way with animals and children. He taught most, if not all, of his nieces and nephews how to drive, in addition to his daughter and granddaughter.

Mason often said, "It's not about the age, but the mileage." Those words are exactly how he lived his life - always staying busy and never slowing down, except to help someone along the way.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, September 23, 2023, at 2:00 PM at the Buckroe Beach Volunteer Fire Co., 2412 E Pembroke Ave, Hampton, VA 23664. Burial will follow at Historic Oakland Cemetery, 1009 E Pembroke Ave, Hampton, VA 23669

Arrangements by Dial-Murray Funeral Home, Moncks Corner, SC and R. Hayden-Smith Funeral Home, Hampton, VA.

Memorial contributions may be made to the George Mason Pickin Memorial Fund at GoFundMe.com benefitting: the Chuckatuck Vol. Fire Dept. Scholarship Fund, North Charleston Fire Museum, and Historic Oakland Cemetery.