Jerry Archie Rylee

Mr. Jerry Archie Rylee, age 79 of Gillsville, passed away on Wednesday, May 17, 2023 at Northside Hospital, Gwinnett following an extended illness.

Funeral services are scheduled for Saturday, May 20, 2023 at 2:00 pm at New Haven Congregational Holiness Church with interment to follow in Union Grove CH Church Cemetery, White County. Reverend Bobby Griffin and Reverend Jerry Shockley will officiate.  The family will receive friends on Friday, May 19, 2023 from 2 – 4 pm and 6 – 8 pm at the funeral home.

Mr. Rylee was born November 10, 1943 in Gillsville, Georgia to the late J. S. Rylee and Susie Griffin Rylee.  He was a graduate of East Hall High School.  In 1962, Jerry began preparing himself for a career in public service by working days and attending evening school at Atlanta Law School, eventually obtaining his LLM Degree.  His work in public service first began when he got a job with the U.S. District Court at an entry level and before long, he rose to the position of Court Clerk to a U.S. District Judge.  Upon passing the bar exam, he left the Federal Court and entered into the private practice of law for several years in Atlanta.  In 1983, his longing desire to return home to Hall County was fulfilled when Governor Joe Frank Harris appointed him as Solicitor of the State Court of Hall County.  Jerry was somewhat overwhelmed his first day on the job when he discovered that he had inherited a 12,000-case backlog and two legal secretaries as support staff.  Being the only prosecutor in the office, Jerry found himself working late at night and on the weekends in order to reduce the backlog of cases.  Due to his hard work, revenues generated by the State Court increased by $1,500,000.00 over the next three years.  After four years in private practice and as a Special Assistant Attorney General, Governor Zell Miller appointed Jerry as Solicitor-General for the second time.  After 30 years of public service, he retired to the good life….Jerry is preceded in death by his parents, and his brothers, Joe Rylee and Olin Rylee.

Mr. Rylee is survived by his loving wife of 27 years, Connie Chambers Rylee of Gillsville, his sister, Mattie Marinos of Atlanta, his brothers, Richard Rylee, Jack Rylee and Danny (Carole) Rylee, all of Gillsville, his sister-in-law, Hazel Rylee of Gillsville, his mother-in-law, Annie Chambers of Cleveland, his brother & sister-in-law, Ricky & Teresa Conard of Cleveland, a number of nieces & nephews, special niece, Susan Marinos and special nephews, Ryan Marinos and Samuel Rylee.     

In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be made to Lebanon Methodist Church Perpetual Care Cemetery Fund, c/o Charles Chandler, 3442 Gillsville Highway, Gainesville, GA 30507; Union Grove C.H. Church Cemetery Fund, 32 Pilgrim Road, Cleveland, GA 30528; New Haven C.H. Church, 615 White Sulphur Road, Gainesville, GA 3050.

Memorial Park Funeral Home, 2030 Memorial Park Road, Gainesville, GA  30504 is in charge of arrangements.

Send online condolences to www.memorialparkfuneralhomes.com.