Colley, Jerry

COLLEY, Jerry Joseph

Jerry Joseph Colley, age 76, of Atlanta, passed absent peacefully on February 17, 2021 from problems of leukemia. He was with his spouse and older son. Mr. Colley was born May possibly 12, 1944 in Atlanta, the fourth little one of Van Buren and Hallie R. Colley. He attended high faculty at St. Pius X Catholic Substantial School in Atlanta. He gained his BBA in Accounting from Georgia State College (GSU) in 1966, his Grasp of Skilled Accountancy from GSU in 1968, and his Grasp of Taxation from GSU in 1983. Mr. Colley was a member of Delta Sigma Pi, national small business fraternity, Beta Gamma Sigma, countrywide honorary small business modern society, and Beta Alpha Psi, countrywide honorary accounting modern society.

Mr. Colley served in the Finance Corps of the U.S. Military from Feb. 1968 till honorably discharged from active obligation in Nov. 1969, serving at Ft. Benning GA, Ft. Ord CA, and just one year at US Army HQ in Long Binh, Vietnam.

He was a founder and majority proprietor of Colley & Kise, CPAs, for 16 decades. Mr. Colley taught for numerous years as an adjunct teacher of accounting at DeKalb College (now GSU), Emory University, and taught taxation at Georgia State University.

In 1984, Jerry and his wife Gloria grew to become lively in bicycle touring in Ga. By 1985, Jerry and several cycling friends launched the Bicycle Journey Throughout Georgia (BRAG) and produced a Board of Directors. By 1990, Jerry experienced grow to be Experience Director and CEO of BRAG, top BRAG to grow to be just one of the leading cross-condition bicycle rides in the nation. He began the BRAG Spring Tune-Up Trip, the Ga BikeFest, and the BRAG Winter season Occasion. He led up to 2,600 individuals throughout the condition of Georgia on bicycles for a 7 days every single June for 25 several years.

Jerry was a founder of Bike Florida, a further profitable cross-condition bicycle ride. He also led groups of cyclists to other rides in the U.S., together with RAGBRAI, Bicycle Across Massachusetts, Cycle Across Maryland, Bike FL, C & O Canal, and Natchez Trace.

Jerry and his wife Gloria coordinated numerous international team bicycle rides which includes Mexico, Cuba, Costa Rica, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, Hungary, The Baltics, Sweden, and New Zealand. He also participated in hikes with the Atlanta Outside Club to Machu Picchu in Peru and across Bavaria in Germany. He and his loved ones visited Brazil, Belize, Guatemala, Croatia, Montenegro, and Greece.

All through his vocation, Jerry was a member and organizer of several noteworthy organizations. With a lifetime-prolonged desire in background, Jerry turned founder and Very first Commander of The Atlanta Earth War II Roundtable. This group delivered chance for veterans to share their tales. To identify a couple of of his achievements, Jerry was Habitat for Humanity (Chairman of the Gwinnett County Board of Advisors), Leadership Gwinnett, Younger Performing for Georgia Gubernatorial Campaign (Co-Treasurer), Max Cleland for Senate Marketing campaign (Money Advisor), Gwinnett County United Negro University Fund (Fantastic Management Award), Northlake Kiwanis Club (President), Atlanta Civil War Spherical Table, (President),Central Evening Shelter for the Homeless (Volunteer Coach), and a member of the American Institute of CPAs, Ga Modern society of CPAs, Southern Bicycle League, Atlanta Keep track of Club, League of American Bicyclists, and the Atlanta Outside Club.

Jerry had a lifelong really like of bicycling, jogging, walking, tenting, hiking, photography, Spanish, Civil War and World War II historical past, genealogy, and listening to biographical textbooks of productive leaders.

Jerry is survived by his wife of 51 decades, Gloria Thomas Colley of Atlanta and their two sons, Mark Colley of Cumming Michael Colley and wife, Luciana Lessa Rodrigues of Atlanta his sister, Nanelle King sister, Miriam Hunt and spouse, Monthly bill Hunt of Doraville brother, Eric V. Colley and spouse, GeAnne Colley of Benson North Carolina sister-in-legislation, Patricia Thomas North and partner, Jim North of Gainesville, FL and a lot of beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Jerry lived his daily life well. His achievements in the group ended up loved by several. He was form, considerate, clever and a mate to all who understood him. Please join our family members to rejoice his daily life at the Roswell Funeral Household, 950 Mansell Rd., Roswell, GA 30076 on February 24th from 4:00 to 6:00. The fast household is questioned to arrive at 3:00. The Mass for Mr. Colley will take place at St. Brendan’s Catholic Church, 4633 Shiloh Rd., Cumming GA, 30040 on February 25th at 11:00. Burial will choose place at the GA Countrywide Cemetery, 1080 Scott Hudgens Travel, Canton, GA 30114 in March.

In lieu of bouquets, donations may perhaps be manufactured in memory of Jerry to the Central Evening Shelter, positioned in Central Presbyterian Church. The mailing Handle is 2107 N. Decatur Rd., Suite 479, Decatur GA 30033 or donate on line https://www.centralnightshelter.org or donations might be designed to St. Brenden’s Catholic Church Food stuff Pantry, 4633 Shiloh Rd., Cumming, GA 30040. Observe on memo line: IHO Jerry Colley.