Alonzo Brantley “A.B.” Sailors, Jr.

Alonzo Brantley “A.B.” Sailors, Jr., of Gainesville, Georgia, passed away on January 23, 2017, at his home surrounded by loved ones following a brief illness.

A.B. was born December 29, 1933 to the late Alonzo Brantley Sailors, Sr. and Mattie Spain Sailors in Gainesville, Georgia. He graduated from Gainesville High School in 1954 and he loved the Red Elephants. He lettered in football, basketball and track. He volunteered for the draft in 1954, and served 2 years in the Army.  He spent twenty-one months in West Berlin where he was a medic.  During that time in West Berlin, he witnessed the construction of the Berlin Wall.

He graduated from the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland in 1981. He was employed with the Gainesville Fire Department for 34 years. He served as a captain for 18 years and later advanced to Chief before retiring in 1991.

He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. He enjoyed coaching junior football. He was a big supporter of Gainesville sports and enjoyed the University of Georgia sporting events. He loved to play golf with his friends and fellow fire fighters. He was a frequent spectator to “The Masters” golf tournament. His daughter, Sue, enjoyed attending “The Masters” and other sporting events with her father.

He was a member of Corinth Baptist Church. He was a very loving husband, father, uncle, brother in-law and mentor for many young men in sports and the fire department.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother A.C. Sailors

A.B. is survived by his wife Barbara Burke Sailors; his daughter Sue Ann Sailors; sister Barbara Sailors Conner; many nieces and nephews; great nieces and nephews; and great-great nieces and nephews.

A.B. is also survived by his fellow firemen that he served with for 34 years.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Hospice of Northeast Georgia, 2150 Limestone Parkway Gainesville, Georgia 30501, the Humane Society of Northeast Georgia, 845 West Ridge Road Gainesville, Georgia 30501, or to St. Jude’s Children Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place Memphis, Tennessee 38105, in A.B.’s honor.  

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 pm on Thursday January 26, 2017 at the Chapel of Memorial Park North Riverside. Rev. Chris Swan and Jon Canada will be officiating.  The family will receive friends from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm on Wednesday January 25, 2017 at the funeral home.  Online condolences can be made at www.memorialparkfuneralhomes.com.

Memorial Park North Riverside Chapel 989 Riverside Drive Gainesville, Georgia 30501 (770)297-6200.