Jerry Priestley Obituary

Jerry Michael Priestley passed away peacefully on September 22nd with his daughter and son at his side. He loved life and burned the candle at both ends giving a lovely light to those around him. Jerry was a multi-sport athlete, football, basketball, baseball, and eventually an avid golfer. He loved the camaraderie and fellowship of all sports in all forms as a participant and as a spectator. Sports were not just a distraction but also part of his passion for life which he lived every day engaging family, friends, competitors, and, intentionally, many others he encountered along his journey. Jerry made everyone feel included in all the events he attended, drawing others into the experience and joy of sports. Jerry was born on September 2nd, 1943, in Charleston, West Virginia. At the age of 8, he moved to North Augusta, South Carolina where his beloved father, Donald Clyde Priestley, introduced him to baseball. Jerry attended North Augusta High School and was an exceptional athlete playing, not only baseball, but also football and basketball for the North Augusta Yellow Jackets. One of many of Jerry's proud moments as an athlete was when he was named the MVP of the 1960 Carolina Shrine Bowl game, and when he was inducted into the North Augusta Sports Hall of Fame in 2006. Recruited across the south to play multiple sports, Jerry chose Georgia Tech where he was able to continue to pursue his love of athletics and became a multi-sport letterman in baseball, basketball and football. Jerry played quarterback and punter for the Yellow Jackets under the guidance of one of his heroes and mentors, Coach Bobby Dodd. He was allowed to continue to pursue his love of athletics and to become a multi-sport letterman, quarterback and punter, pitcher, and the "8th man" off the bench in the sport he loved the most. Jerry remains the last person to letter in all three - football, baseball, and basketball at Georgia Tech. He was inducted into the Georgia Tech Athletics Hall of Fame in 1982. Jerry was also an excellent student and earned his Industrial Management degree (1965) and a master's in industrial management (1967) from Georgia Tech. He also served as a Graduate Assistant under Coach Dodd and was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. He was a true "Tech man and a Helluva friend" always embracing his alma mater and the Georgia Tech community. After graduating from Georgia Tech, Jerry's first job was at Procter and Gamble in Augusta, GA. After the birth of his children, he moved to Atlanta and found his career in commercial real estate. One of his first real estate positions was working alongside his fellow teammate and lifelong close friend, Johnny Gresham. Jerry went on to become Vice President of Marketing and Finance with Cousins Properties and the Landmarks Group. Jerry managed leasing at the Omni and his influence in development can be seen in the Atlanta skyline on projects he contributed to like Promenade in Midtown and Concourse along the perimeter, to name a few. While at Cousins Properties, Jerry's favorite role was in the development and leasing of the Wildwood Office Park, a joint venture with IBM, intentionally designed to preserve natural features and the bordering Chattahoochee National Recreation Area. Jerry loved nature and being outdoors, fishing, shelling, gardening, bird and deer watching in his backyard. Jerry was enthusiastic about sharing his hundreds of photos of his "pet" deer who came to visit him regularly off his backyard deck. Affectionately known as "Ranger Rick" to some of his closest friends and family, Jerry delighted in planting tomatoes with grandchildren, fishing at Big Canoe and American Adventures (now Chattahoochee Nature Center), and caring for his ageless poinsettias. Jerry loved the beach. He was content to sit in the beach chair through an afternoon shower, just to enjoy the warmth of the sun to dry him off so he could have another "cold one" with his feet in the sand. "This is Livin!" he would proclaim. Jerry loved the pageantry and fellowship of the holidays, especially Thanksgiving and Christmas. He celebrated the holidays with passion and enjoyed adding plenty of stories and commentary to the family feasts, but his favorite role was as "Papa Claus!" It was often difficult to distinguish who was more thrilled, excited, and full of wonder, his grandkids or him! When his football, basketball, and baseball days were over, Jerry developed an avid love of golf. He found joy on the golf course, particularly at Settindown Creek. Jerry loved to play golf day in and day out, competitive as can be, and, yet, he enjoyed every daylight hour with his many friends and the "scratch group." He left a legacy and passion for sports, especially golf, and a love for nature with his family and friends…a real competitor with a big, compassionate heart. Jerry is survived by his, daughter, Leigh Ann (Ninetta) Violante, son, Stephen (Jennifer); sister, Rita Prosser, nieces, Dana (David) Marable, Andrea (Rob) Brewer; grandnephew, Austin Brewer; grandniece, Taylor Ortez; and former wife, Sheila Priestley, co-grandparent to his three beloved grandchildren Catherine, Chapman, and Gavin. Jerry is predeceased by parents Lillie and Clyde Priestley, and brother-in-law, Lowell Prosser, Jr. A funeral service will be held on Friday October 17th at 2:00 pm at Posey Funeral Directors Chapel, 1307 Georgia Avenue, North Augusta, SC. A visitation will take place prior to the service. A celebration of life will be planned in Atlanta at a later date, 2026. In lieu of flowers donations in his memory can be made to Songs for Kids Foundation https://www.songsforkids.org/ and The Chattahoochee Nature Center Welcome to the Chattahoochee Nature Center in Roswell, GA.