John Henry Dooly, III

John Henry Dooly III, age 89, of Buford, GA died Saturday, July 6 after an extended illness.  He was born December 27, 1934 in Clarksville, GA, the son of John Henry (PeeWee) Dooly, Jr. and Emma Gertrude Carson Dooly.

John graduated from Decatur Boys High School and received an Electrical Engineering Degree from Southern Tech.  He worked at Cape Canaveral, FL for a year before moving back to Georgia for employment with BellSouth as a network engineer.  He worked 30 plus years, received a Network Directors Award for Engineering Excellence and retired from AT&T in 1993.  Before moving to Florida, John married Barbara Sorrells in 1955, eventually settling in Doraville, GA to raise their five children.  They moved to Buford in 1967, preferring several acres for his large family.  Sadly, shortly before they would have celebrated their 50^th wedding anniversary, Barbara passed away.

John was active in church life from the age of 15 when he accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior.  He served as a deacon and was an excellent Sunday School teacher for decades.  John also helped in the establishment of several churches.  He served as a Poll Manager and kept his finger on the pulse of local politics as well as the national scene.  John enjoyed camping and traveling and spending time with his family.  He particularly appreciated Georgia State Parks and had camped in each one, either in a tent or an RV.

In addition to his parents, John was predeceased by his wife Barbara S. Dooly, a daughter, Joyce Dooly Figueroa, a grandson, Joshua Smallwood and a brother, Jim Dooly.  Surviving are his wife of 16 years, Jane Alexander Dooly, a brother Jack Dooly (Angela), daughter Tammy Renee Lyle (Jim), sons John Henry Dooly IV (Dawn) and Mark Anthony Dooly (Lori) and daughter Cheryl Dooly Smallwood (Larry), grandchildren Bryan Hayes, Ruth Hein, Rebecca Cribbs, Zackery Smallwood, Justin Dooly and Tyler Smallwood, twelve great grandchildren, and John’s Texas Family from his marriage to Jane.

Those who wish to remember John in a special way may make gifts to Zion Hill Baptist Church Building Fund, 3390 South Puckett Road, Buford, GA 30519 or Gentiva Hospice, 1100 NE Sherwood Park Drive, #120, Gainesville, GA 30501.

A celebration of John’s life will be held at Hamilton Mill Memorial Chapel & Gardens on Friday, July 12, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. with graveside service in Clarkesville immediately following. Visitation Thursday, July 11, 2024 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Share memories of John at hamiltonmillchapel.com

Hamilton Mill Memorial Chapel 770-945-6924