Ms. Dale Garland "D.G." McElveen Jaeger

Dale Garland “D.G.” McElveen Jaeger passed away peacefully on October 9, 2024 in Washington DC with her husband of 48 years, Rob, and her daughter, Garland, by her side. She was in DC to attend the annual convention of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA).

D.G. was born on December 19, 1950, in Gaffney, SC to Robert and Peggy McElveen. She was the oldest of three daughters with sisters Cornee and Robin. D.G. attended Gaffney High School, where she was President of her senior class, homecoming queen and head cheerleader. During the summer before her senior year, she traveled to Europe with a group of U.S. student council members. It was this trip that sparked her interest in international travel and learning about cultures around the world.

She attended Brenau College, in Gainesville, GA, graduating in 1973 with a degree in English. She was President of her sorority, Alpha Delta Pi. After graduation she lived and worked in Charleston, SC where she was exposed to her future vocation after meeting a landscape architect.

In the spring of 1975 D.G. moved to Athens, GA to pursue a master’s in landscape architecture (MLA) from the University of Georgia. In September of 1975, she met her future husband, Rob, who was also an MLA student. After spending the summer of 1976 together at Lake Lure, NC they married on September 12, 1976, at the Fairfield Mountains Country Club. Two days after their wedding D.G. and Rob returned to continue their studies. Both graduated with their MLAs from UGA.

Following graduation, D.G. worked for the Georgia Mountain Regional Planning Commission in Gainesville, where she established the first historic preservation program for the Northeast Georgia region. In 1984, she opened The Jaeger Company (TJC) and over the next 30 years, with a group of talented colleagues, completed projects focused on cultural, ecological, and civic landscapes, primarily for public-sector clients. The company grew, having two offices, one in Gainesville and one in Athens. TJC received numerous awards in design and historic preservation. After selling the company in 2014, D.G. continued to practice with the new firm, WLA Studio.

D.G. was deeply devoted to the field of landscape architecture. She served on the Dean’s Council at UGA for many years and was a member of the Roster of Visiting Evaluators (ROVE), making 17 accreditation visits to landscape architecture programs at universities across the U.S. In 1999, she became a Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) and later was a Fellows and Professional Awards juror. Through D.G.’s participation in ROVE she became a member of the Landscape Architecture Accreditation Board (LAAB), having recently accepted the position as chair of the board beginning in January 2025.

Rob and D.G. lived on Lake Lanier in Gainesville for 44 years. She was very involved in the community. D.G. became a Rotarian in 2005 and was in charge of maintaining the Rotary tree. She was a dedicated member of Grace Episcopal Church serving on the vestry and altar guild. D.G. also served on the Gainesville Mainstreet Board, the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation Board of Directors and the Georgia Scenic Byways Project Advisory Committee.

D.G. loved to travel, both domestically and internationally, and shared a love of Brazil with Rob. They made 10 trips to Brazil and had three exchange students from Salvador de Bahia live with them and their daughter, Garland, between 1992 and 1999. Each student attended North Hall High School for their junior year. D.G. was an avid student of Portuguese, taking weekly classes for more than two decades.

Rob and D.G. also served as foster parents to four children, two of whom they are still in touch with 40 years later.

Most of all, D.G. was a devoted wife to Rob and mother to Garland, loving them with her whole heart and with all her energy. D.G. also loved being a grandmother, Avó (“grandmother” in Portuguese), to her grandsons Jackson (6) and Wyatt (3). She was grateful for the many friendships she made throughout her life and enjoyed hosting and visiting friends as well as planning annual trips with those she loved dearly.

She was deeply loved by so many friends and her family. D.G.’s energy, warmth and bright light will be sorely missed. Go in peace our dear. We love you so much.

A celebration of life service and reception will be held on October 26, 2024 from 11-1 at the Gainesville Botanical Gardens.

      Memorial Park Riverside Chapel 989 Riverside Drive Gainesville, Georgia is in charge of arrangements

For online condolences www.memorialparkfuneralhomes.com .