John Dan Black

Mr. John Dan Black, age 82 of 79 Canebrake, Toccoa passed away Tuesday, June 16, 2015 at the Northeast Georgia Medical Center.

A son of the late Grady F. Black and Mary Louise King Black, he was born April 10, 1933 in Stephens County, Georgia.  He was a Navy Korean War Veteran.  He received master level and was a founding member of the National Verbatim Reporters Association where he held many positions including president and mentor to young reporters including his two brothers.  He was a certified court reporter with the NVRA and received the designations CCR, CVR-CM-PNSC-HM.  He was the National Speed Champion in 1976.  He received a Class A Certificate from the Supreme Court of Georgia.  Dan lived for many years in Morrow, Georgia where he was a member and deacon at Jonesboro First Baptist Church. He spent most of his working career with the Georgia State Board of Compensation and the Clayton County Superior Court.

In 1998 he and his wife returned to Toccoa, Georgia where he continued his court reporting with Stephens County State Court.  He was a member and deacon of Carnes Creek Baptist Church before his love of gospel music led him to Tom’s Creek Baptist.  He was a member of the Toccoa Lions Club.  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Mary Helen Adams Black.

Survivors include two brothers, Don Black and wife, Gail of Albany, Georgia and James Black and wife, Carolyn of Salem, South Carolina.; brothers-in-law Alton Adams and wife Emily and James Henry Adams and wife Dawn all of Toccoa.  He is also survived by seven loving nieces and nephews, a number of great-nieces and nephews and special companion, his shih-tzu, Amy.

Funeral services will be Friday, June 19, 2015, 2 O’clock PM in the Hillcrest Chapel of the Acree-Davis Funeral Home with The Reverend Dr. Tim Miller and The Reverend Bob Wescott officiating.  The following gentlemen will serve as pallbearers, Andy Pavliscsak, Jack Barnett, George Hosea, Mark Adams, Andy Adams, Jerry White and Mike Andrews.

The family will receive friends at the Acree-Davis Funeral Home on Thursday from 6 PM to 8 PM. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Tom’s Creek Baptist Church, 3604 Highway 145, Martin, Georgia 30557 or Toccoa Lions Club, P.O. Box 523, Toccoa, Georgia 30577 in memory of Mr. John Dan Black.

Interment will be in Stephens Memorial Gardens with Military Honors by the U.S. Navy Honor Guard and the VFW Post 4346. 

Acree-Davis Funeral Home in charge of the arrangements for Mr. John Dan Black.  Online condolences can be made by visiting the website at www.acree-davisfh.com