East Cobb Obituaries

Former Cobb County Manager David Hankerson dies at 77

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Submitted by Cobb County Government:Former Cobb County Manager David Hankerson dies

After his retirement, David Hankerson told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “I never hated to come to work for Cobb; I couldn’t wait. I was always here early, always here late.”

Those who worked with and for him know that is almost an understatement.

Hankerson came to work for Cobb in 1984 and was named County Manager in early 1993. He held that position for 24 years and shepherded county government as it moved from a mixed suburban/rural area to a rapidly growing metropolitan county.

David Hankerson died Thursday after a long illness. He was 77.

Current County Manager Dr. Jackie McMorris says Hankerson brought her to Cobb County in 2013.  

“But for Mr. Hankerson, I would not be where I am today,” Dr. McMorris said. “I believe the core values he has instilled in Cobb still resonate to this day, which include integrity, honesty, work hard, show up, and be ready when you show up. He was a giant in Cobb, and his legacy will live on in all of us.”

Chairwoman Lisa Cupid said Hankerson provided needed guidance when she became a district commissioner.

“David was a giant in our county and unmatched in his leadership and service to commissioners, employees, and civic and business leaders,” Chairwoman Cupid said. “I could not have accomplished all I did as a District Commissioner without his support. My prayers go out to David’s family and the Cobb Community during this very difficult time.”

“Today, we lost a gentle giant and exemplary leader of this county,” said District 3 Commissioner JoAnn K. Birrell. “David Hankerson will be remembered fondly for his management style, integrity, and leadership. He was a great mentor, husband, father, son, and friend. Thoughts and prayers are with his family. RIP Mr. H.”

David Hankerson acquired a Bachelor of Science in Agronomy from Fort Valley State College and a Juris Doctorate from the Woodrow Wilson College of Law. He served in the U.S. Army from 1967 to 1970 in the Signal Corps, headquartered in Seoul, Korea. Upon his return to Georgia, he was a District Conservationist for the United States Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service.

He came to Cobb County Government in 1984 and served as manager of the Community Development Department. He was appointed Cobb County Manager on February 1, 1993. 

His last appearance before the Board of Commissioners came in September 2022 to celebrate the county’s 25th year of receiving a triple AAA rating. Hankerson said that had become a priority when he became county manager, and the county achieved that goal just a few years later.

“Triple AAA is about financing, but it’s more than just financing,” Hankerson said. “It’s about leadership, about community relations, and business relationships. We were very proud of that triple AAA rating.”

Hankerson was a Leadership Cobb Alumnus, a graduate of the Regional Leadership Institute, a member of the Association County Commissioners of Georgia General Government and Natural Resources and Environmental Policy Committees, a graduate of the Institute for Georgia Environmental Leadership Class, National Security Forum Alumni and a member of the Marietta Kiwanis Club. 

He served on numerous civic and professional boards. In 2006, Governor Perdue appointed him to the Environmental Advisory Council. In 2008, he became a member of the ICMA Client Advisory Forum, and in 2009, he was invited to serve on The Walker School Board of Directors and The Strand Board of Directors. 

He received numerous awards, including one of five distinguished Georgians to receive an Excellence in Public Service Award for 2004, and in 2005, the Blacks United for Youth/Cobb presented him with the Justice Robert Benham Award for outstanding leadership, service, and total commitment for the equality of all citizens. In 2008, the Senior Citizen Council of Cobb County presented Hankerson with the Community Leader of the Year award. In May 2009, he received the Delta Upsilon Boule Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity Founder’s Day Excellence in Government Award. 

In July 2009, the Board of Commissioners named the Safety Village Education Building in his honor. 2010 awards include the Marietta Daily Journal Citizen of the Year, 100 Black Men of North Metro Image Award, and the Cobb NAACP Hugh Grogan Political Action Award.

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Woodstock crash victims to have joint visitations, funerals

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Woodstock crash victims to have joint funerals, burials
Gabe Escandon, left, and Esteban Cortes.

The two teenagers killed in a one-car crash in Woodstock last week will have their visitations and funerals together, family members and friends have announced.

The families of Gabriel Escandon, 17, a Pope High School senior, and Esteban David Cortes, 18, who attended Etowah High School, will hold a joint visitation on Thursday and Friday from 4-9 p.m. each day at Poole Funeral Home (1970 Eagle Drive Woodstock).

There also will be closed casket viewings at the same venue Thursday and Friday.

A joint funeral service for the two boys—who were varsity soccer players at their respective schools—will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at Mt. Paran Church of God (2055 Mt. Paran Road NW, Atlanta).

“The families believed that the boys lived life together and should be laid to rest together,” states a message on a remembrance page for Escandon.

GoFundMe fundraisers have been set up for both (here and here) by the “East Cobb Soccer Community.”

Fundraisers also are ongoing for survivors of the crash, including Lassiter soccer player Chris Peixoto.

They were passengers in a Mazda that crashed into a tree in a median on Towne Lake Parkway last Tuesday.

It was the 18th birthday for Cortes, who died at Wellstar Kennestone Hospital. The Cherokee Sheriff’s Office said Escandon died at the scene.

“Gabriel always encouraged us to seize the moment and embrace life’s adventures,” the fundraiser organizers said.

“And to those who knew Gabriel and his larger than life personality, his spirit remains, watching over his parents, his brothers, and his extended family. On the pitch, he will forever be the 12th man, supporting and encouraging his teammates. In the classroom, amongst his peers and with family, he had the power to illuminate the darkest corners of a room. He understood the meaning of brotherhood. His love of life was felt in everything did.”

The friends of the victims also have set up a website, pray4pkwy.org, where 100 percent of sales of “For His Glory” wristbands and t-shirts will go the families of Escandon and Cortes and to set up scholarships in their memories.

 

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Obituary: Remembering Dr. Eric Booth Karlen, 1946-2023

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Family and friends will gather on Oct. 6 at Grace Resurrection Methodist Church to honor the memory of Dr. Eric Booth Karlen, an East Cobb resident since 1993, who passed away last week. His son Tyler passed along the photos and following remembrance, with the younger photo at the bottom being taken in high school:Dr. Eric Booth Karlen obituary

Dr. Eric Booth Karlen, born January 11, 1946, in White Plains, NY, passed away peacefully on August 25, 2023, at his home in Marietta, GA, surrounded by his family.

Eric is survived by his beloved wife of 39 years, Mary “Dee” Grape Karlen; his son, Tyler Booth Karlen (Emily); his daughter, Ashley Karlen Lynch (Ryan); his brother, Sven Bernhard Karlen Jr.; his sister, Kristen Karlen Davenport; and three wonderful grandchildren – Cole Booth Karlen, Charles Ashton Karlen, and Beckett Lee Lynch.

Raised in Bronxville, NY, Eric cherished many fond memories with family at the Bronxville Field Club and at his grandfather’s Hillandale Farm in nearby Brooklyn, CT. His father Sven was the CFO of CBS, and his mother was a well-known realtor. In high school, he played varsity football, basketball, and baseball and served as President of the Student Council. Eric also won the highly distinguished American Field Service scholarship to study abroad in Melbourne, Australia as a junior.

Eric completed a BA in Psychology from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1968, an MA in Education with a specialty in Rehabilitation Counseling from Columbia University in 1972, and a Doctor of Medicine from Temple University in 1980. In between degrees, Eric also served in the Peace Corps in La Paz, Bolivia.

In 1983, Eric moved to Fairfield, CT, joining the pediatric practice, Kueffner & Scholan. He married the love of his life, Dee, in 1984, and they welcomed their son, Tyler, and daughter, Ashley, soon after. The family relocated to Atlanta in 1993 and Eric became a partner at East Cobb Pediatrics where he lovingly served hundreds of families until his retirement in 2015.

A devout member of Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church, Eric found great joy in singing in the church choir and the Kingsmen men’s ensemble. He also loved to golf and garden. More than anything, Eric was a beloved father, husband, and friend, who always offered a listening ear, wise counsel, and an abundance of love and encouragement.

He was predeceased by his parents, Sven Bernhard Karlen Sr. and Catherine “Tommy” Booth Karlen; his brother, Mark Henry Karlen; his nephew, Matthew Hamilton Grape; his niece, Caroline Oldham Grape; his grandson, Camden Lee Lynch; and several aunts and uncles.

Eric was also the proud great great grandson of General William Booth, founder of The Salvation Army, an organization close to the hearts of his family. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to The Salvation Army or the Alzheimer’s Association.

A memorial service in celebration of Eric’s life will be held at Grace Resurrection Methodist Church on Friday, October 6th at 3pm. The church is located at 1200 Indian Hills Pkwy NE, Marietta, GA 30068 and the service is open to the public.

The Karlen family would like to express their deep gratitude for the outpouring of love, prayers, and support in this challenging time. To keep Eric’s memory alive, they invite everyone to share their cherished memories, photos, and condolences on his memorial site at www.everloved.com/life-of/eric-karlen.

Dr. Eric Booth Karlen obituary

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If you’d like to honor the memory of a loved one or someone important to you that you wish to share with the community, East Cobb News publishes obituaries free of charge.

Please send you information, along with any photos, to: editor@eastcobbnews.com.

 

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Wheeler graduate killed in U.S. Marine Corps training flight crash

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Wheeler graduate killed in Marine training crash
Maj. Andrew Mettler. NBC 7 San Diego

A Marietta man who was killed in a U.S. Marine Corps training flight in California last week has been identified as a Wheeler High School graduate.

In a report earlier Tuesday, 11 Alive said Maj. Andrew Mettler, 31, died Thursday after his F/A-18D Hornet crashed at the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar north of San Diego.

The report said that after graduating from Wheeler, Mettler attended Georgia Tech, where he met his wife Nancy.

He graduated from Georgia Tech in 2007 and became a Naval aviator, and was stationed at the Marine Corps Air Station in Beaufort, S.C.

Mettler and his wife had two sons and a daughter.

According to the Times of San Diego, Mettler was the only passenger on board the plane when it crashed, and more than 80 first-responders and Coast Guard personnel conducted a search.

His body was found in a remote area east of Interstate 15 near the MCAS Miramar landing area, according to NBC 7 in San Diego.

The TV station also received a statement from Mettler’s father, Mike Mettler, that “my wife and I are devastated by the loss of our Marine Pilot son and our hearts are pouring out for our daughter-in-law and our three grandchildren.”

Multiple news outlets reported that the cause of the crash is under investigation.

Second Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) Commanding General Maj. Gen. Scott Benedict issued the following statement through the U.S. Marine Corps:

“I am deeply saddened to share the loss of Maj. Andrew ‘Simple Jack’ Mettler, a fellow Marine aviator who was honing his craft as a Hornet pilot and leader in his squadron, the Fighting Bengals. I had the great honor of flying in an F/A-18D with Simple Jack and will always remember his skill piloting the Hornet and his wry smile. It is with great humility that I offer my deepest condolences to the family, loved ones, and friends of Maj. Andrew Mettler. You remain at the forefront of our thoughts and prayers.”

The Marine Corps release said Mettler was assigned to the All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 224, which was was participating in a service level training exercise.

Mettler was decorated several times, including the Navy Unit Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal and a Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with four bronze stars, according to the Times of San Diego.

 

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Harry Kone, East Cobb World War II veteran, dies at 102

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Harry Kone dies at 102
Harry Kone celebrated his 100th birthday in 2020

Harry Kone, who survived wounds at the Battle of Guadalcanal and was a public school teacher before moving to East Cobb to be close to family, died on Dec. 30 at the age of 102, according to a notice posted on social media by his church.

Unity North Atlanta Church announced on its Facebook page that Kone passed away Friday at 2:30 p.m. “mid way through his 102nd year of blessing this world and this church.”

His full obituary can be found by clicking here. A Celebration of Life service is scheduled for Unity North on Feb. 4 at 3 p.m.

Kone had been featured in local media outlets in recent years and was interviewed elsewhere about his military service during World War II.

Shortly before his 100th birthday in August 2020 Kone told East Cobb News that “I never worry about tomorrow” because of his experiences as a Marine.

“From then on, I never worried about much. I had plans, but I didn’t worry about what I’m going to do tomorrow,” he said.

“This is what worries a lot of people,” Kone said, but “if I’m dead tomorrow, I don’t have to worry.”

Kone and his late wife Marjorie raised two daughters and a son in the Chicago area, where he was a teacher for 40 years.

Harry Kone, East Cobb World War II veteran
Harry Kone marking his 99th birthday at a Marine League event in Woodstock.

They moved to East Cobb in 1995 to be near their children, including daughter Sue Lind, who later became her father’s caregiver.

He got active in local veterans organizations, including the Squire “Skip” Wells Marine Corps League, and was a member at Unity North Church on Sandy Plains Road.

In 2021, the Cobb Board of Commissioners recognized him for his 101st birthday and declared Harry Kone Day in the county. He was a supporter of ongoing efforts to establish a Cobb Veterans Memorial.

His centenary birthday came during the COVID-19 pandemic, but he was able to meet with family members in a socially-distanced fashion.

Kone was born Aug. 16, 1920 in Baltimore, Md., the only child of a railway clerk and a homemaker, Kone was an avid reader, the habit instilled by his mother.

In 1939, he moved to Milwaukee to work as a welder, and attended a branch of the University of Wisconsin on a scholarship to help develop children’s programming in the very early days of television.

He was living in a boarding house there when he met his future wife.

After the Pearl Harbor attack on Dec. 7, 1941, Kone enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and was a machine-gunner. He was wounded after being strafed by Japanese fighter planes.

Kone was honorably discharged in 1945 and also was awarded a Purple Heart.

A bout with tuberculosis kept him in a Veterans Administration hospital for two years.

In 2019 he was profiled by the American Veterans Center, and the year before, he spoke with the Atlanta History Center (see video below).

He and Marjorie Kone were married 65 years until her death in 2011.

In addition to his daughter Sue Lind, Kone is survived by a son, Stuart Kone of Douglasville, four grandchildren, and three great grandchildren.

He also was preceded in death his other daughter, Barbara Bechely, who also lived in Marietta.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Kone’s honor to Unity North Atlanta and the Marine Corps League National Headquarters.

 

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Mike Boyce remembered as ‘good and faithful servant’ at Mt. Bethel

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Mike Boyce remembered, Judy Boyce
Judy Boyce speaking at her husband’s memorial service Friday at Mt. Bethel UMC.

Former Cobb Commission Chairman Mike Boyce was remembered by family members, friends and his fellow church members in East Cobb on Friday.

At a memorial service at Mt. Bethel United Church, where he was a member, Boyce was remembered as a faithful member of the U.S. Marine Corps, actively involved in church and community activities, and someone who liked to inspire and motivate others.

Boyce was 72 when he died in January, after suffering two strokes while attending a leadership seminar at the University of Notre Dame, his alma mater.

He served as chairman from 2017-2020, after ousting incumbent chairman Tim Lee in the Republican primary. Boyce lost his re-election bid in 2020 to Democrat Lisa Cupid.

His four years at the head of county government turned out to be culmination of his many local activities in Cobb after he married Judy Boyce, a longtime Marietta resident, 22 years ago.

Other remembrances came from his son Kevin, retired Mt. Bethel senior pastor Rev. Randy Mickler and his successor, Dr. Rev. Jody Ray.

(You can watch a replay of the service by clicking here.)

Bob Babcock, a Mt. Bethel member and former U.S. Army officer, talked about Boyce’s efforts to help his fellow veterans to sign up for their benefits. One of them went to a VA doctor as a result and after getting an early diagnosis of cancer, has been a survivor for 10 years.

“Mike’s legacy will never die,” Babcock said. “If you want to look for a legacy, don’t look for a monument, look at the person to the left or the right or in front of you, and ask, ‘How did Mike help you?’

“Most of us,” Babcock said, his voice breaking with emotion. “Most of us. . . Thank God for Mike Boyce.”

Rob Lee, Boyce’s political adviser for both his 2016 and 2020 races for chairman, said one of Boyce’s greatest attributes was his ability to inspire confidence in those around him.

Lee said whenever he felt he wasn’t up to a task, Boyce would say, “I trust you. I’m here because I trust you to help me get to where I want to be. . . . He just makes you want to work harder, to relish the relationship I had with him.”

That relationship, Lee said, transcended politics.

Boyce served 30 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, stationed around the world in his many capacities (Mt. Bethel choir members sang the Marines’ Hymn at the end of the service).

Mickler, who was the senior pastor at Mt. Bethel for 29 years, said “the real Mike Boyce had a streak. I won’t say it was mean, but I wouldn’t want to cross him.”

He said while he was driving Boyce around the campaign trail, Mickler asked him if he was fearful of knocking on doors in a “rough neighborhood.”

“Randy,” Mickler recalls Boyce telling him, “I can kill anybody. . . . 22 times . . . with my hands,” prompting the Mt. Bethel audience to erupt in laughter.

“I said, ‘OK, I got it, I got it,’ ” Mickler said.

At the end of his remarks, and after quoting from 1st Corinthians, Mickler said summing up Boyce’s life, “well done, good and faithful servant. Well done.”

Judy Boyce, a retired flight attendant, has attended Mt. Bethel for more than 40 years. When her husband retired from the Marines, they moved to East Cobb and he plunged right into church and community activities.

In her remarks at the service, she fought back tears talking about his easy-going nature around the house and his simple tastes.

“Mike never had a home,” she said. “He traveled, and when he came to Marietta, he said this was home.”

He liked to entertain people at home for dinner more than meet them at a restaurant, but on Saturdays the Boyces liked to have breakfast at Waffle House.

Boyce’s favorite restaurant was Panda Express and he also liked McDonald’s Happy Meals, she said, “but only the toy.”

“They’re low standards, but they’re mine,” she recalled him telling her, prompting more chuckling from the audience.

“I’m very grateful to God for the 22 years he gave me with Mike,” Judy Boyce said. “Rest in peace my Marine.”

Mike Boyce remembered

 

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Former Cobb Commission Chairman Mike Boyce dies at 72

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Cobb budget town hall, Mike Boyce, Cobb public safety bonus, Cobb millage rate
Former Cobb Commission Chairman Mike Boyce conducting a town hall meeting at the Sewell Mill Library in 2019.

Former Cobb Commission Chairman Mike Boyce, who had been hospitalized in Indiana after suffering two strokes, died on Tuesday.

Cobb County Government and his wife Judy Boyce announced the news shortly before the Cobb Board of Commissioners meeting Tuesday night.

Boyce, who was 72, underwent surgery last Tuesday in South Bend, Ind., and had been visited by family members since then.

He and his wife Judy had been attending a leadership seminar at the University of Notre Dame, his alma mater, when he was stricken.

An update on Monday morning on a CaringBridge page said that the Boyces were to meet with doctors to establish his progress.

Judy Boyce posted an update early Tuesday evening saying that her husband “was a man of God who always put other people first.”

She said he was “thrilled to return” to Notre Dame last fall to participate in the school’s Inspired Leadership Initiative program.

“He had never been happier than he was in the past few months, participating in this program, bicycling to campus and interacting with and mentoring students,” she said. “He was having the time of his life.”

Boyce, a Republican and a retired Marine officer who lived in East Cobb, served as chairman for one term, and was defeated by Democratic current chairwoman Lisa Cupid in 2020.

He was an active member of Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church.

The Cobb government statement that while in office, “Boyce garnered a reputation as a true public servant, putting the needs of those he served above anything else. Although the retired Marine Colonel often leaned on his military leadership skills, those who worked for him knew he had a soft heart for the county’s employees and often preached he needed to “take care of his troops.”

The statement also quoted Cupid as saying that “he loved the county and our country and dedicated himself to making Cobb a better and more inclusive place for everyone. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones during this very difficult time.”

Said Cobb County Manager Dr. Jackie McMorris: “On behalf of the leadership team, we are grateful for his leadership and he’ll be missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.”

The Cobb County Republican Party posted a message on its Facebook page Tuesday evening, saying that Boyce “will leave a void in Cobb County. He served his country well and was a friend to so many. Our hearts are broken. Please keep his family in your prayers.”

Judy Boyce said contributions may be made to the University of Notre Dame via the Michael H. Boyce Memorial Fund. Gifts may be made online at https://giving.nd.edu/Boyce, by phone at 574-631-5150, or by mail: University of Notre Dame Department of Development, 1100 Grace Hall, Notre Dame, Ind. 46556.

“Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers during this most difficult chapter,” Judy Boyce said in her update.

 

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Memorial service for former U.S. Sen. Isakson to be livestreamed

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On Thursday the late former U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson will be honored at a memorial service in Atlanta.Isakson blisters Trump

That service, scheduled to start at 2 p.m. at Peachtree United Methodist Church (3180 Peachtree Road NE) can be seen online via the Vimeo streaming platform by clicking here.

Isakson, 76, the longtime East Cobb resident who served a total of 45 years combined in the Georgia legislature and U.S. Congress, died Dec. 19 after a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s Disease (official obituary here).

This week his former official social media accounts have been posting news about the service, as well as links to speeches.

After his retirement at the end of 2019, Isakson started the Isakson Initiative, a non-profit that conducts research into and raises awareness for neurocognitive diseases including: Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and related dementia.

The Isakson family is asking that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Isakson Initiative by clicking here.

Those planning to attend the memorial service in person are asked to have been vaccinated for COVID-19 and to wear masks.

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Lassiter graduate killed in motorcycle crash in Kennesaw

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For the second time in as many weeks, a member of the Lassiter High School community has died in tragic circumstances.Dylan Nekrasas, Lassiter graduate killed motorcycle crash

Dylan Paul Nekrasas, 19, who graduated from Lassiter in 2020, was killed in a motorcycle crash on Saturday near the Kennesaw State University campus.

Cobb Police said he was riding a motorcycle eastbound on Big Shanty Road at Hidden Forest Court Saturday around 2:30 p.m. when it crashed into a BMW heading northbound on Hidden Forest Court and that was trying to turn left onto Big Shanty.

Nekrasas was thrown from the motorcycle and landed on Big Shanty Road, then was hit by another BMW, according to police.

Police said Nekrasas was given medical attention but was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to police, the driver of the first BMW, Olivia Swanigan, 27, of Tylertown, Miss., was taken to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital with chest pains and a shortness of breath, and the driver of the other BMW, Walter Leeper, 68, of Acworth, was not injured.

Police said that speed was a factor in the crash and they don’t expect to file charges.

The Lassiter PTSA linked to an online tribute page. Nekrasas was a student at KSU, where, according to a family message, he was studying “to be a marketer just like his dad.

“Dylan was our free spirit and was always up for an adventure,” the message read. “He loved hockey, lacrosse, and the outdoors, and lived his life to the fullest. He was shy yet a deep thinker with a heart of gold. Dylan had a loving heart and would always help a friend in need. His loss is devastating to those who knew and loved him.”

A celebration of life service is scheduled for Saturday at 3 p.m. at Northside Chapel (12050 Crabapple Road, Roswell).

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project or the Arbor Day Foundation. Links and more information can be found on the tribute page.

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East Cobb business and civic leader Johnny Johnson dies

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East Cobb Citizen of the Year, Barbara Rhodes
Johnny Johnson presented Brenda Rhodes of Simple Needs GA the 2018 East Cobb Citizen of the Year Award. Johnson was a former recipient of the honor. (ECN file).

Johnny Johnson, the owner of a jewelry store in East Cobb, a former member of the Cobb Board of Education and a longtime community leader, died on Wednesday.

The East Cobb-based Kiwanis Club of Marietta Golden K said that Johnson, who turned 75 in December, died of complications from COVID-19.

“Johnny was a great Kiwanian and leaves a legacy of passion and service that is rare but sets a high standard which we should all strive to emulate.”

For more than 40 years, Johnson was the owner of Edward-Johns Jewelers, located at Woodlawn Square Shopping Center on Johnson Ferry Road for many years until moving to the nearby Regency Park office building in 2018.

He served on the Cobb school board from 1997-2008, one of many public roles he took on after settling in the East Cobb area in the 1970s.

He was a leader of the East Cobb Area Council of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce, which names a citizen of the year each fall. After being named an East Cobb Citizen of the Year, Johnson had the honor of presenting future recipients with the same award.

Johnson also dressed up as Santa Claus for the Holiday Lights celebration at East Cobb Park, riding in on a sleigh and visiting with children.

Each December he would dress up as Santa at his Edward-Johns store and pose for free pictures with children.

Johnson was an active member of the Golden K Kiwanis, as well as Kiwanis International and its board of trustees, and was a past president of the Cobb County YMCA.

Holiday Lights East Cobb Park

 

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Planning Commission member from East Cobb dies from COVID

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Cobb Planning Commission member Judy Williams died Monday from COVID-19, according to Cobb commissioners who announced her death at their meeting on Tuesday.Cobb Planning Commission Chairwoman Judy Williams

Williams was appointed by Commissioner JoAnn Birrell from District 3, which includes Northeast Cobb, and had served as the five-member board chair for two years until last year.

“We lost a great public servant and a true friend,” Birrell said in remarks at the end of Tuesday’s meeting. “She was my rock.”

The commissioners also held a moment of silence for Williams.

Williams was a lifelong Cobb resident who graduated from Marietta High School and was a planner for Cobb County government from 1972 until her retirement in 2000. According to her obituary, one of the first projects she signed off on was the creation of Indian Hills in East Cobb.

Williams later returned to serve on both the planning board and the zoning appeals board.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday will be limited to family only but can be viewed on the Mayes Ward Dobbins website.

Contributions in Williams’ memory can be made to the Wellstar Foundation.

The Cobb Planning Commission is scheduled to meet Tuesday to hear the first zoning cases in 2021.

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Longtime East Cobb Library branch manager Ansie Krige dies

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Ansie Krige, East Cobb Library branch manager dies

Cobb Commissioner Bob Ott sends along word that Ansie Krige, the longtime branch manager at the East Cobb Library, died suddenly on Dec. 5.

“She loved that library,” said Ott. “It’s a huge loss.”

Thomas Brooks, a spokesman for the Cobb County Public Library System, said in a statement that Krige’s passing “was unexpected and we haven’t heard an update from her family. Ansie had a major, positive impact for the East Cobb community for many years.”

A private celebration of her life will be held in Denver.

Here’s more from what Ott distributed Friday in his e-mail newsletter:

 Cobb Library staff members and community leaders expressed shock over the unexpected loss of Ansie Krige. She led the staff of one of the Cobb library system’s busiest locations. She was known as an advocate for education, health, and positive social connections for the East Cobb community. Many library patrons regularly sought her out during their visits to the library to share in conversations about family, literature, animals, and more.
 
Known as a gracious host to library patrons, guest authors and speakers at the library, Mrs. Krige developed innovative programs and built a library collection aligned with community needs. Among the signature programs for the library system she developed is the Senior Wellness Series offering exercise, yoga, physical therapy assessments and more to capacity crowds of senior citizens.
 
In lieu of flowers, the Krige family requests donations in memory of Ansie Krige to the Humane Society.

 

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GoFundMe started for family of Shallowford Road crash victim

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Halloran Family, Shallowford Road crash victim

Friends of an East Cobb man killed in a car crash on Shallowford Road on Wednesday have started a GoFundMe online fundraiser for his family.

The Andy Halloran Memorial Fund has already raised more than $13,000 of a designated $15,000 on behalf of his family.

Jen Halloran, the victim’s wife, said the following on the fundraising message:

“Andy was literally the very best person I’ve ever known, and he made me a better person each day. He was hard-working, kind, generous, loyal, faith-filled, and funny. Andy was also the most amazing dad. Our kids were so lucky to have had him as a faith leader, tennis partner, math tutor, band dad, driving instructor, and friend.”

The Lassiter Bands posted a message Friday saying Halloran was a volunteer in their organization and whose son Will played in the band and is a student at UGA. Daughter Claire was the band drum major last year and is Lassiter’s STAR student.

A three-car crash occurred Wednesday shortly before noon at the intersection of Shallowford Road and Lassiter Road. Eastbound lanes of Shallowford were closed at the intersection for several hours as police and emergency crews worked the scene.

One individual was transported from the scene by ambulance and occupants of another car were able to walk away without injuries.

Cobb Police have not released any information about the crash or the victim; when contacted by East Cobb News on Friday, department spokeswoman Officer Shenise McDonald said a release would be sent to the media “once we return back to the office.”

She didn’t indicate when that would be.

Jen Halloran said in her message she was unsure of funeral arrangements due to COVID-19, but asked for prayers for her family “as we take our next steps on very shaky legs.”

 

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Scholarship to honor Kell HS student killed in bicycle crash

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Robby Schulz

The brother of a Kell High School student who was killed last week in a bicycle crash has begun a college scholarship fund for an autistic student, and to fund autism research.

Robbie Schulz, 15, was a sophomore at Kell when he died last Wednesday after he was hit by a car while riding his bicycle on North Marietta Parkway near Interstate 75.

The boy, who also attended pre-kindergarten at Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, Timber Ridge Elementary School and Hightower Trail Middle School in East Cobb, was autistic.

Nicholas Schulz, in forming what he calls “Team Robby,” said his brother “was the smartest person I’ve ever known” and “was incredibly outgoing, sweet, and kind-hearted.” The fundraising campaign has raised nearly $25,000.

In his obituary, Robby Schulz was praised by his teachers. “He taught me compassion and that it was okay to be different,” said Andrea Cilluffo, his science and social studies teacher at Hightower Trail. “He taught me to teach from the heart because words were just words and sometimes words just didn’t explain what the heart could. Robby made me a better teacher and a better human.”

At Kell, he was a member of a Dungeon & Dragons club. “Robby was a kind soul and I will fondly remember his eruptions of delight when he cast just the right spell to save the day,” said Douglas LaVigne, the club’s faculty leader.

Robby belonged to Cub Scout Pack 795 at Mt. Zion UMC and Boy Scout Troop 713 at St. Catherine’s Episcopal Church.

In addition to Nicholas Schulz, Robby’s survivors include his parents, Jim and Alex Schulz, brother Derek Schulz and twin sister Lizzy Schulz.

A visitation is scheduled for family and friends Wednesday from 5-7 p.m. at Mayes-Ward-Dobbins Funeral Home in Marietta, and a memorial service will be held there Thursday at 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation be made to Team Robby, Hillside or to a charity of the donor’s choice.

Marietta Police said the accident took place around 4:20 p.m. Wednesday when a 2010 Nissan Maxima driven by Desmond Sipplin, 25, of Marietta, and heading eastbound on North Marietta Parkway, struck the bicycle near the intersection of the I-75 northbound ramp.

Police are continuing to investigate the crash, and anyone with information is asked to call 770-794-5384.

 

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East Cobb Park founding member Sunny Walker dies at 71

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Sunny piano East Cobb Park
Sunny Walker at the unveiling of “Sunny” the piano at East Cobb Park in 2017. (ECN file photo)

The Friends for the East Cobb Park is sending out word that Sunny Walker, one of the key figures in the creation of East Cobb Park, has died.

Walker, 71, died on Aug. 27. She also was a past president of Friends volunteer organization, helping to raise money to buy the land on Roswell Road where the park continues today.

In 2017, a piano donated by the East Cobb-based Play Me Again pianos non-profit was named “Sunny” in her honor and located at the park’s upper-level gazebo.

Walker was named the 1993 East Cobb Citizen of the Year by the East Cobb Area Council of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce. Her other community activities included being a Chamber board member as well as its Leadership Cobb initiative. She also was a supporter of the Theatre in the Square in Marietta. From her obituary:

“Sunny is remembered for her unconditional love of people and her perpetual heart of service. Dedicated to the arts, she championed numerous projects that were important to her community and its cultural development. Sunny’s influence is ever-present and vast.”

Walker, who lived in Smyrna, grew up in Rome and moved to Atlanta after graduating from the University of Georgia. She and her sister started the family-owned Frameworks Gallery, located on Johnson Ferry Road.

She is survived by her sister Diane Spencer of Woodstock and four other siblings, two children and five grandchildren. Walker was preceded in death by her husband “Big Al” Walker.

 

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IN MEMORIAM: East Cobb civic leader Trish Steiner, 75

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Trish Steiner, who died on Saturday at the age of 75, was a longtime community activist, including many years with the East Cobb Civic Association, and was involved with the Walton High School community.

Here’s the remembrance her family is sharing with the community:Trish Steiner

She was born in Pittsburgh, PA to the late Dr. Thomas and Mrs. Faye Hayes. Trish met her husband Maurice “Mo” Steiner at Milligan College in 1962. After being married in 1966, Trish and Mo lived in Maine and Florida before moving to East Cobb in 1984. She was a dedicated mother to her daughters, Audra, Melissa and Brianne.

As a lifelong volunteer, Trish was an activist for her community. She was appointed by Cobb Commissioner Bob Ott the Neighborhood Safety Commission and was a longtime member and board member of East Cobb Civic Association. During her tenure of ECCA, she served various leadership roles involving zoning and variances and Johnson Ferry Corridor Study.

Trish received a proclamation from Cobb Commissioner JoAnn Birrell in 2012 in recognition of her volunteer service to Cobb County. Trish was a 2004 YMCA Woman of Achievement recipient. She was a member of The College of Charleston’s Parent Advisory Council from 2003 -2009, and was a member of The College’s 1770 Society.

Trish was the founder of the Mt. Bethel Elementary School Foundation and was a driving force in the formation of Walton High School’s Foundation and Charter Status. Trish and Mo were both enthusiastically involved in Walton Band and Orchestra Parents for many years.

Trish was dearly loved by Maurice “Mo,” her husband of 53 years, her children, Audra, Melissa and Brianne, and sons-in-law Steven Ritter and Yannick Bennett. Her death is mourned by family and friends, who will miss her enthusiasm, wit and resourcefulness.

The family will receive friends between the hours of 5 pm and 8 pm Monday and Tuesday, May 20th and May 21st at HM Patterson and Son Canton Hill, in Marietta. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the charity of your choice in her memory.

The Steiner family also put together this tribute video.

 

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Obituary: Beth Farokhi, founding member of East Cobb Democrats group, school board candidate

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Beth Farokhi, a founding member of the East Cobb Democratic Association and a former Cobb school board candidate from East Cobb, has died of ovarian cancer.Beth Farokhi

Over the weekend the Cobb County Democratic Party made the announcement. Farokhi, 70, had been living in Kennesaw and was involved in party activities on several levels.

In 2006, Farokhi received 43 percent of the vote in the Post 6 Cobb school board election in her campaign against Republican incumbent John Crooks. That seat is now held by Scott Sweeney.

Farokhi was a school teacher in Cobb and also ran for state superintendent of schools in 2010. She was a retired administator at the College of Education at Georgia State University. Her son, Amir Farokhi, is a member of the Atlanta City Council.

Here’s the message the county party was sharing Sunday:

Beth was one of the founding members of East Cobb Democratic Association, among her many, many activities in our community. She ran for the Cobb County School Board in 2006, achieving a record for door knocking, even though she did not win. In 2010, she ran for State Superintendent of Schools, traveling the length and corners of our state to spread her message and making many friends. Beth was a constant champion for schools and education and children, as well as for women’s equality. Beth was wife and mother, a professor of education, and officer in numerous organizations, but most of all we will remember Beth Farokhi as our friend, who always had a warm smile and kind word for everyone she met.

Per the AJC’s full obituary, following a private graveside service in her hometown of Augusta, a public memorial service is scheduled for July 7 at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta.

 

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Fundraising drive continues for funeral expenses for Powers Ferry Road crash victim

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A reader who saw Sunday’s fatal Powers Ferry Road crash alerted us to this GoFundMe page that has been started to pay for the funeral expenses for Miraylla Sousa, a 23-year-old woman who died in that wreck. 

Her car was struck by a car driven by Ryan Michalski, 31, who also died. Thus far the fundraiser has exceeded the $10,000 goal set by organizers, just a day after the appeal went out. They noted that Sousa was on her way to visiting her mother when the crash took place.

Sousa, who is from Brazil, also leaves behind a brother and a two-year-old nephew. We’re working to get more information about that as Cobb Police continue investigating the wreck.

Police said witnesses told them the car driven by Michalski had been speeding in the northbound lane of Powers Ferry Road, and was passing other cars in the center turn lane, then veered into a southbound lane and crashed into Sousa’s car at Meadowbrook Lane, just north of Powers Ferry Elementary School.

Michalski’s car caught fire, according to police, who said he and Sousa were pronounced dead at WellStar Kennestone Hospital.

According to an obituary for Michalski, who lived in the East Cobb area, he was a guitarist and musician. Donations are being accepted in his memory to the Shepherd Center in Atlanta.

 

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