Sherman Ross Day

Sherman Ross Day

January 16, 1938 – March 20, 2024

January 16, 1938, Sherman Ross Day was born to his wonderful parents Martha Rawlins (Brown) Day and Ross Snow Day in Draper Utah.  Early in his life he gained a love for all sports.  He developed a special ability to play basketball while raising mink and thinning sugar beets.  With pleasure, he recalls coaches and teammates from Draper High School, All Church, and Australian church mission basketball.  His love of sports was a constant in his life.  He was an avid golfer, softball player, fisherman, high school and little league and church team coach in a variety of sports, collegiate athletic director and inaugural conference commissioner, a senior vice president for the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games (ACOG), and season ticket holder of his local high school and college teams.

Sherm was married to the love of his life, the late Afton J. Day (Afton Eunice Jensen).  Their marriage was solemnized for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake City, Utah Temple of  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on December 27, 1960.  They would work together as he earned his bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University, master’s degree from Illinois, and Doctorate from the University of Georgia. Sherm and Afton would find themselves becoming Georgians with brief stops in Oregon, Illinois, and Washington D.C.  Together they served in the California-San Francisco Mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  They would spend a year as representatives of Brigham Young University at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China.  Subsequently they would spend a month a year for the next 10 years running the freshman English camp at Tsinghua.

As a matter of course, Dr. Sherman Day (Ed.D University of Georgia 1967) is remembered professionally as interim president University of North Georgia (being named 14th president ex post facto).  He was interim president of Georgia State University (also serving as professor and Chairman of Counseling and Psychological Services Department, acting dean of admissions, acting athletic director, associate dean and dean of the College of Education).  He also served as interim president at Bainbridge College and Gordon College.  He served as inaugural director of the National Institute of Corrections and Assistant Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons of the United State Justice Department.  While working for ACOG, he was particularly delighted with his development of Centennial Olympic Park.

Sherman devoutly served in a variety of callings for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  He served as a home teacher, Gospel Doctrine Teacher, Elders Quorum President, High Priest group leader, full-time missionary in Australia and San Francisco, Bishop, High Councilor, Atlanta Temple Sealer, and primary worker.

Sherm passed away Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at the age of 86.  He is survived by his brother Gerald J. Day (LuAnn Smith), and sister Louann (Day) Greenwood (George Greenwood); his children Sandra Day, Brad Day (Dena Buytendorp), and Kristin (Day) Lester (Robert Lester); 11 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Sunday, March 24, 2024 at 3 p.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Dahlonega Ward, 7207 Dawsonville Highway, Dawsonville, GA 30534.  Bishop Michael Mulberry will officiate.  Interment will follow in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Dahlonega.

The family will receive friends at the church on Sunday from 2 p.m. until the hour of service.

For those unable to attend, the service will be livestreamed at the following link: https://zoom.us/j/92778125179?pwd=cFJ5R1JYYUl6YVdRMGRVQWk5aWVGZz09#success

Condolences may be expressed at www.beardenfuneralhome.com.

Bearden Funeral Home, Dawsonville, GA.