Family-placed obituaries

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

Obituaries

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.

Credit: Courtesy of ADAC

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.

Credit: Cynthia Daniels

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.

Credit: John Spink

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.

Credit: Courtesy of Rogers family

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.

Credit: Sarah Esther

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.

Credit: Courtesy of the Gray family

OBITUARY

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Obituaries

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

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

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

Dr. Grace Kim remembered for compassion, adventurous spirit

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Former chancellor Erroll Davis remembered as ‘always a leader’

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Margareta Martin, Scandinavian culture expert, dies at 95

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

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

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

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

Jon Oscher, philanthropist and entrepreneur, dies at 93

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

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

Herschel Bloom, prominent Atlanta attorney, dead at 82

Bill Hembree, GOP state representative, dies at 59

Dr. William (Bill) H. Foege, Atlanta global public health giant, dies at 89

Francisco A. Tomei-Torres, retired CDC environmental health scientist, dies at 73

Barry Lynch, pioneer in computer programming, dies at 92

John Lambis, longtime radio producer and advertising executive, dies at 76

Anne Isenhower, respected public relations expert, has died

T. Rogers Wade, mentor and adviser to prominent Georgia politicians, has died

Atlanta’s Joe Beasley, international civil and human rights advocate, dies

Jon Abercrombie, advocate for ending homelessness, dies at 77