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Obituaries

Earnest Jay McCollum

Obituary Date: Sunday, November 11, 2018

Earnest Jay McCollum, age 70, passed away on Sunday, November 11, 2018.

He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Susan; daughter, Melissa Lovell; son, Daniel McCollum; sister and brother-in-law, Rhonda and Terry Gladden; beloved granddaughters, Avalon and Alena Lovell; and many other special friends and family members.

E. Jay, as he was known to many, was born on April 8, 1948, in Lavonia, Georgia. The only son of GP and Mary McCollum, he grew up with his sister, Rhonda, in Clarkesville, Georgia. He was never the most studious. All reports indicate that he spent more time in the pool hall than at the library of the University of Georgia, before graduating with a degree in business. This love of pool later blossomed into a side business of making custom pool cues.

He served honorably in the United States Army Reserves, obtaining the rank of Captain. He rarely spoke of his service, with his children only learning of his military time when they noticed military intelligence coffee mugs on the mantle. Not one to brag, he never applied the term veteran to himself despite his time of honorable service.

He earned his law degree from John Marshall Law School in 1973. He spent the vast majority of his career as a prosecutor in the district attorney’s office in Clarkesville. For over 24 years, he served as Chief Assistant District Attorney. Widely recognized as a formidable trial attorney, he was awarded the Assistant District Attorney of the Year Award for the state of Georgia in 1993. He focused on some of the most challenging cases, specializing in crimes against children. Sadly, he was very busy.

E. Jay was always associated with the story of the “sand dollar man.” In this story, a stranger questions a man throwing back sand dollars one at a time on a beach littered with thousands of them. “Don’t you see there are too many? How can what one man does matter?” the stranger understandably asks. After throwing one more back, the sand dollar man answers: “It mattered to that one.” There is no more apt summary of his character and his lifelong service to the children of North Georgia. E. Jay was a man of integrity who will be sorely missed.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, November 17, 2018, at Whitfield Funeral Home, North Chapel, Demorest, Georgia, with Rev. Steve McIntyre officiating.

The family will receive friends from 10:00 am until the memorial hour on Saturday, November 17, 2018, at the funeral home.

Flowers are welcome, as are donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105.

A special thank you to the many friends who have already or will reach out to the family, as we appreciate all of your thoughts and prayers.

“Go Rest High On That Mountain, Jay.”

Those wishing to express online condolences to the family may do so by visiting www.whitfieldfuneralhomes.com.

Arrangements are in the care of Whitfield Funeral Homes & Crematory, North Chapel, 245 Central Avenue, Demorest, Georgia.

Funeral Date
11/17/2018 at 11:00AM
Funeral Home
Whitfield Funeral Home, North Chapel
Phone
(706) 778-1700
Address
245 Highway 441 S, P.O. Box 58, Demorest 30535
Website