N. A. Jacobs, Jr., 93, a Gainesville fixture since 1958, quietly passed on May 20, 2017. An architect by trade and a Ramblin’ Wreck to the core, N. A. loved his family, his work, and his Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him.
N. A. was born in Grayson, Georgia on July 19, 1923. He dreamed of piloting the airplanes he watched fly over his family’s farm, so he joined the Navy in hopes of becoming a Naval aviator. He enlisted shortly before Pearl Harbor and was called up a few months later to attend flight school in Macon. After earning his wings—he was one of the youngest in the Navy to do so—he flew cargo, VIPs (including Charles Lindberg), and wounded soldiers in the European and Pacific theaters. N. A. donated his flight log and handbook to the Library of Congress as part of the Veterans History Project. The Daughters of the American Revolution awarded him their Distinguished Citizen Award in 2014.
At the encouragement of his mother, his future bride began writing him letters during the war to raise his spirits while stationed so far from home. Love blossomed through the U.S. Mail, and upon returning home, he married Carolyn Jean Mason in Grayson, Georgia on June 29, 1946. They celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary last summer.
N. A. graduated from Georgia Tech with a bachelor’s degree in Architecture. He designed buildings on the Young Harris College, the University of North Georgia (Dahlonega and Gainesville), and the University of Georgia campuses. He designed many elementary, middle, and high schools throughout Hall and Gwinnett Counties as well. In Gainesville, he designed the 1960 Courthouse, Brenau Downtown Center (formerly the Georgia Mountain Center), and the Family Life Center at First Baptist Church. N. A. served on the National Architectural Registration Board for three different Georgia governors.
N. A. loved his family and friends above all else. At the yearly family reunion, he loved sitting at the head of a table that grew longer each year filled with his growing family. He was a music lover, a coin collector, a shrewd card player, and an avid gardener. Traveling was a special passion—Barcelona, Spain was his favorite city—and he and Carolyn were able to enjoy trips on five different continents. He served as a deacon at First Baptist Church where he sang in the choir and was a member of the Anglers Sunday School Class. A Kiwanian to the end, he was a member of that organization for more than 40 years, serving a year as president.
Loved and cherished by all who knew him, N. A. will be most missed by his wife, Carolyn, and their children’s families: Deems Wilson, Sr., husband of his late daughter, Jean, Van Wilson and Robin Johnston with Ben and Jessie, Deems Wilson, Jr., and John and Catherine Eagan with Emma Jean; Greg and Gay Jacobs, Chris and Julie Schaefer with Kinsley and Conner, and Jared and Jennifer Cullifer; and Stephen and Karla Jacobs with Abby and Daniel.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at the chapel of the First Baptist Church of Gainesville, Georgia
On Monday May 22,2017 at 10:30 a.m. Dr. Bill Coates officiating. The family will receive friends after the service in the fellowship hall. Family request donations be made to the Music Department of the First Baptist Church 751 Green Street Gainesville, Georgia 30501
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Music Program or Flower Committee at First Baptist Church, 751 Green Street NW, Gainesville, GA.
Memorial Park North Riverside Chapel 989 Riverside Drive 770-287-8227
Gainesville, Georgia 30501 in charge arrangments.
