Family-placed obituaries

Read family-placed obituaries and online guestbooks from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Obituaries

Credit: Courtesy of the Geshwiler family

Joseph E. Geshwiler, former AJC opinion writer, dies at 89

In his self-written obituary, Geshmiler says he contributed more than 4,000 opinion articles for the Constitution across 17 years.

Credit: Courtesy of TVS

Tom Ventulett, architect who handcrafted many of Atlanta’s landmarks, dies

Thomas W. Ventulett III's designs included the Georgia World Congress Center, College Football Hall of Fame and Atlantic Station.

Credit: Courtesy of Adams Family

OBITUARY

Rev. Joanna Moseley Adams, trailblazing Atlanta Presbyterian minister, dies at 81

A gifted storyteller, Rev. Joanna Adams was magnetic in the pulpit. She was also devoted helping Atlanta's most vulnerable people, by founding shelters and nonprofits.

Credit: Eric Stirgus

OBITUARY

James Laney, former ambassador to Korea and Emory University president, dies at 98

Faculty say Laney transformed Emory from “a good, regional school” into a world-class research university. He left in 1993 to become the U.S. ambassador to South Korea.

Credit: AJC staff

Robert A. Mason, who opened HBCU doors for thousands, dies at 66

Robert A. Mason, who died Aug. 2, nearly missed out on college. He created the Common Black College Application, which has helped more than 500,000 students apply to HBCUs.

Credit: Photo Courtesy of Edo Miller & Sons Funeral Home

OBITUARY

William C. Fowler, helped bring 1996 Olympic Games to city, dies at 82

Fowler led the Atlanta tax division of the former accounting firm Arthur Andersen and served as chairman of the PATH Foundation board for 25 years.

Credit: Courtesy of the Olmstead Family

Chris Olmstead, prominent Atlanta divorce attorney, dies at 84

Prominent Atlanta divorce attorney Christopher Olmstead passed away at age 84 earlier this month, the family announced.

Credit: Jcrawford@ajc.com

Scott Sweeney, former Georgia Board of Education chairman, dies at 68

Known for his calm leadership and public service, the longtime Georgia education advocate died in his Cobb County home on July 10.

Credit: Contributed

Alan Walden, who managed Otis Redding and Lynyrd Skynyrd, dies at 83

Georgia music impresario Alan Walden, who had a hand in launching fellow Maconite Otis Redding to superstardom and signed a fledgling Lynyrd Skynyrd, died Thursday. He was 83.

Credit: Courtesy of the McHaney Family

Tom McHaney, Georgia State University English professor, dies at 89

McHaney was internationally known as an expert on the work of William Faulkner. He also wrote award-winning fiction and several plays.

Credit: Courtesy of Ledbetter family

Matthew Ledbetter, former Forsyth County tax commissioner, dies at 59

Credit: Courtesy of Clinkscales Family

Dr. Grady Clinkscales, noted hand surgeon, dies at 94

The renowned hand surgeon was responsible for starting Atlanta’s first microsurgery training lab and performed the first successful replantation in Georgia in 1978.

Credit: Courtesy of Kim family

OBITUARY

Dr. Grace Kim remembered for compassion, adventurous spirit

Dr. Grace Sung Un Kim was a beloved anesthesiologist who lived in Smyrna, worked for Wellstar and loved skiing, sailing and scuba diving.

Credit: Courtesy of the Powell famil

Joe Powell, who founded a large IT power and cooling company, dies at 82

The south Forsyth man owned Joe Powell and Associates, which has seven offices across the Southeast that support information technology customers.

Credit: Photo courtesy of Scott Brown

Charlie Brown, developer who reshaped the city and Atlanta suburbs, dies

Charles R. Brown, a renowned developer pivotal to transforming a polluted steel mill into an Atlanta jewel who also molded many of the region’s thriving suburbs, has died.

Credit: Raymond Hagans/rhagans.photoshel

OBITUARY

Peabo Bryson, Atlanta R&B singer, dies after a stroke

Longtime Atlanta resident Peabo Bryson, dubbed the "Voice of Love" died after having a stroke. Bryson is well known for his Disney duets including "Beauty and the Beast."

Credit: AJC Staff

OBITUARY

Jim Minter, former executive editor of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, dies at 95

Newsman known for his keen sense of story helped shaped journalism in the South for decades.

Mackenzie Johnson, beloved leader in the design industry, dies at 40

Mackenzie Johnson, the senior marketing manager for the Atlanta Decorative Arts Center and rising star in interior design, died on May 17.

Elliott Brack, publisher of the Gwinnett Extra, dead at 90

Elliott Brack was a veteran Georgia newspaperman who served over three decades as chairman and president of the Red & Black Publishing Co., which runs UGA's student newspaper.

Credit: RCG

Ted Turner’s passion, vision for Braves helped turn them into ‘America’s Team’

Ted Turner's colorful character came out as an Atlanta sports team owner. Turner died Wednesday at age 87.

Ted Turner, CNN founder, business maverick and ‘Mouth of the South,’ dies at 87

Ted Turner, visionary Atlanta businessman, died peacefully Wednesday, surrounded by his family, according to a spokesperson for the family.

OBITUARY

Former chancellor Erroll Davis remembered as ‘always a leader’

A former energy company executive, Errol Davis was the first Black chancellor of the University System of Georgia. He then served as superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools.

Credit: AJC staff

Lee Walburn, noted journalist and magazine editor, dies at 89

Walburn’s literary prowess helped shape the styles and careers of a host of Southern writers and recast Atlanta’s city magazine as a literary powerhouse.

OBITUARY

Janice White Sikes Rogers, who shaped how Atlanta preserves Black history, dead at 73

The former librarian served the Atlanta-Fulton County Library System for nearly 40 years and was a community historian and cultural writer throughout her adult life.

Walter Reeves, Georgia gardening guru, has died at age 74

Walter Reeves spread his gardening gospel on WSB radio and through The Atlanta Journal-Constitution over a span of decades.

Credit: HANDOUT

Kirk Kinsell, hotel titan and Georgia Aquarium board member, dies at 71

Kirk Kinsell, a longtime InterContinental Hotels Group executive and Georgia Aquarium board member, died at 71 after a battle with cancer.

Leif Palmer, EPA attorney whose legal action helped build Atlantic Station, dies at 66

His ‘rather brilliant argument’ paved the way for the popular mixed-use development in Midtown, former colleague says.

Rosalind Rich Rieser, who danced with Atlanta Civic Ballet, dead at 86

Rosalind Rich Rieser, who was the great-granddaughter of Morris Rich, a founder of iconic Rich’s department store in Atlanta, has died at age 86.

Tony Gray, former president of the Atlanta Jamaican Association, dies at 77

Friends said Tony Gray loved his Jamaican culture and had a gift for connecting people across the Caribbean diaspora.

Credit: Courtesy of the Martin family

OBITUARY

Margareta Martin, Scandinavian culture expert, dies at 95

Finnish native Margareta Martin helped establish a wide variety of cultural, business, artistic and culinary links between the Nordic world and Atlanta.

Credit: jgetz@ajc.com

Bernard LaFayette Jr., civil rights strategist, dies at 85

The civil rights organizer helped lead the student sit-ins that desegregated Nashville’s lunch counters and later became a strategist in the Southern voting rights movement.

Credit: AJC

OBITUARY

Former DeKalb County sheriff’s death marks end of tragic saga

The flamboyant and mercurial former DeKalb County sheriff died March 2 of natural causes at Augusta State Medical Prison.

Credit: Courtesy of Life University

OBITUARY

Dr. Guy Riekeman, former Life University president and chancellor, dies at 76

An innovator in the chiropractic profession, he increased student enrollment to full capacity.

Credit: AP

OBITUARY

Coleman Barks, UGA professor and poet who popularized Rumi, dies at 88

UGA poet Coleman Barks, celebrated for his own work and for bringing Rumi’s poetry to modern audiences, died in Athens surrounded by his family at age 88.

Credit: Courtesy of Oscher family

OBITUARY

Jon Oscher, philanthropist and entrepreneur, dies at 93

The Cartersville resident supported Booth Museum of Western Art, the Tellus Science Museum and the Savoy Automobile Museum

Credit: Courtesy of the Wills family

Carolyn Wills, Atlanta arts scene patron and community activist, dies at 89

Known for her work rescuing the Fox Theatre and championing Atlanta arts, Carolyn Wills dies at the age of 89 after a lifetime of civic leadership.

Credit: Courtesy of Wade-Gayles family

OBITUARY

Dr. Gloria Wade-Gayles, Spelman College professor, writer, activist, dies at 88

Wade-Gayles died Jan. 25 of a heart attack, her family said. She is being remembered for her many accomplishments and activism.

Credit: Courtesy of Bloom family

Herschel Bloom, prominent Atlanta attorney, dead at 82

Herschel Bloom, an Atlanta attorney with a passion for baseball, has died. Bloom was a longtime assistant coach of the East Cobb Yankees team for older high school players.