Mr. Vergil Newberne, 83, of Adel, Georgia, passed away October 26, 2014 at his home. He was born August 27, 1931 in Cook County to the late Arthur McKinley Newberne and Leta Mae DeMott Newberne. He was a member of Antioch United Methodist Church and also was a Master Mason, Shriner, and 32nd Degree Mason of the Scottish Rite. He also served his country in the United States Army.

He married the love of his life, Dorothy Pearl Simpson of Hahira in 1951. They had two children, Steve and Cyndi. The family relocated to Atlanta where Vergil completed his law degree at John Marshall University. Between lectures, Vergil blazed his own trail when he found his true vocation in the restaurant business. Upon graduation, the family moved down to Saint Petersburg, Fl where they opened their first restaurant, Gigi's, in 1967. As only Vergil could, he and Dot opened 11 more Gigi's over the next decade. Consistent with the drive it took to open his restaurants, Vergil was in his element during prime time at the restaurant, greeting customers by name, with a smile, a warm handshake, and sharing a part of his roots in Georgia with some fresh country sausage. After achieving success, Vergil and Dot were able to retire, where they stayed active as always, traveling around the United States with friends and family. Vergil and Dot's legacy was continued by their children Steve and Cyndi who currently run Gigis.

Although he opened his restaurants in Florida, you could not take Georgia off his mind, Vergil and Dot spent at least as much of their time at their farm in Adel a stone's throw from where Vergil was born on Arthur Newberne road. You could frequently find Vergil fishing in the pond, telling stories at Pine Valley, and singing on Sunday at Antioch church with lifelong friends and family.

Vergil is survived by his loving wife, Dorothy; his son Steve, his daughter and son-in-law Cyndi and Ken Shain, and grandchildren, Jamiee and Jackie; and a sister, Faye Spence. Daddy will be greatly missed, but he will be forever in our hearts.

The Newberne family received friends Tuesday October 28, 2014 from 6 until 8 pm at Boone Funeral Home, 1804 S. Hutchinson Ave. in Adel. The funeral service took place at Antioch United Methodist Church on Wednesday October 29, 2014 at 11 am with Rev. Christie Bandy officiating. Interment followed at Woodlawn Cemetery Annex in Adel. Dr. Rodney Tyson, Tommy Cotton, Larry Rodgers, Ira Fender, Bruce Howell, and Jared Howell served as pallbearers. Faye Spence played "When They Ring Those Golden Bells" on piano; Wayne and Mary Nell Boyette sang "In The Garden" and "How Great Thou Art;" Johnnie Lou Ellenberg and Mary Nell Boyette played the piano. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.boonefunerals.com. Boone Funeral Home is serving the Newberne family.