Jack Holcomb

Mr. Jack B. Holcomb of Gainesville died January 8, 2010 at the Northeast Georgia Medical Center after a lengthy illness.
He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Willie and Frank Holcomb, his brothers Curtis, Charles and Franklin Holcomb; and his sisters Annie Lou Minish, Clara Mealor and Grace Achors. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Dr. Louise Holcomb, Gainesville; daughter and son-in-law Jackie and Dana King, Buford; grandson Jim Coleman, Gainesville; granddaughters Elizabeth Bouchell, Tuscaloosa, Alabama and Michelle Bouchell, Statesboro; sisters Betty Helton, Cleveland; Eva Todd, Beaumont, Texas and sister and brother-in-law Bernice and Al Forziati, Cleveland, and a host of nieces and nephews.

Born in 1924 n Madison County, Georgia and raised on a farm, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy after Pearl Harbor and served for the duration. He achieved a Quarter Masters rank while serving in the Atlantic and Pacific theaters. He was decorated four times with two bronze stars. He survived numerous Kamikaze attacks and toured Hiroshima shortly after the atomic bomb was dropped. He was discharged out in 1946 and immediately married Louise Crane and both went to school on the G.I. Bill at the new Truett-McConnell College in Cleveland, Georgia.

He had a distinguished educational career holding degrees from Piedmont College and the University of Georgia and completed additional advanced graduate work from Peabody College in Nashville. He was a charter student of Truett-McConnell College and a member of the first graduating class. He became a classroom teacher of mathematics and physical education at Truett-McConnell and in this position he organized and served as Coach of the first men's and women's basketball teams. Many of the members of his basketball teams became educational leaders in Hall and surrounding counties. He later became Academic Dean of the College, a position he held for ten years. After serving a total of 20 years at Truett-McConnell where he touched the lives of many students and is still known affectionately as "Dean" or "Coach", he and his family moved to Gainesville where he taught on year at Gainesville High School. He then became the Assistant Director of the Ninth District Educational Services Agency, a federally funded pilot program to furnish educational services on a shared basis to school systems in the Ninth Congressional District. After this project proved to be successful, 16 such agencies were established throughout the state, at which time he assumed the position of the Director of the agency in Ellijay. During this time he served for seven years on the Board of Trustees of Truett-McConnell.

He had been active in professional and educational organizations both locally and state wide. He served as state President of the Cooperative Educational Service Agencies, and was voted "Outstanding Administrator in North Georgia" by the Phi Delta Kappa Honor Society. North Georgia RESA honored him by naming a Conference Room for him 18 years after he retired. He was named to the "Who's Who, School District Officials" publication during his career. In October, 2008 Truett-McConnell College dedicated the Jack and Louise Holcomb Education Center. Not only did he obtain a high educational status in the area, he has endeared himself to a host of friends and co-workers who respect and love him and will not forget him and his many valuable contributions.

He served on the Board of Deacons of the First Baptist Church, Cleveland and as a teacher of the Young Married Sunday School Class and the Adult Men Sunday School Class of First Baptist Church, Gainesville. He is currently a member of the Lakewood Baptist Church.

Visitation for the family and friends will be held at Little & Davenport Funeral Home, Gainesville, on Sunday, January 10, from 3-6 p.m. Services will be held at Lakewood Baptist Church, Gainesville on Monday, January 11, at 11:00 a.m. with Dr. Tom Smiley and Dr. Jerry Gill officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family request that donations be made to Truett-McConnell College, 1000 Alumni Drive, Cleveland, Georgia 30528 or Lakewood Baptist Church, 2235 Thompson Bridge Road, Gainesville, Georgia 30501.

Those wishing to send online condolences to the family may do so at littledavenport.com

Little & Davenport Funeral Home, 355 Dawsonville Highway, S.W., Gainesville, Georgia 30501.