Marion Eugene "Gene" Jernigan

Marion Eugene (Gene) Jernigan passed to glory on March 28th, 2025, at the age of 87. Gene was born in Atlanta, Georgia on December 18, 1937, the son of Robert and Louise Jernigan. He will be remembered as a wonderful father and husband. Gene met Jan at Peachtree Road Methodist MYF in his first year of college and they married in June of 1959. They raised their family in Smyrna, GA, except for 2 years in Chester, VA following Gene’s career. They were married for 65 years. Jan preceded him to glory on December 22, 2024. Gene was a graduate of North Fulton High School and one of the original “Buckhead Boys”. He went to Davidson College on a football scholarship but concussions did not allow him to follow through. While at Davidson he joined Phi Delta Theta and then returned to Atlanta where he met Jan and attended Georgia State, lettering in basketball. Gene enjoyed a successful career in the insurance industry as a Group Sales Manager for the Southeast and Vice President of the Life of Virginia. He was very active in the community serving as President of the Smyrna Lions Club, the Zoning Board for the City of Smyrna and volunteered in many Peach Bowls and the 1996 Olympics. In the years after his retirement, Gene enjoyed traveling with Jan, and being at all the grandkids activities, from band and play performances, to the many sports. He also became very engaged in church going on Mission trips to Kenya, Venezuela, and Puerto Rico along with serving in the Disaster Response ministry as a CERT for Cobb County. He is survived by his sons Jeff (Jill) Jernigan of Powder Springs, GA; Rob (Robyn) Jernigan of McMinnville, TN; Doug (Nikki) Jernigan of Leesburg, GA: six grandchildren and four great grandchildren, and sister Gail (Jernigan) Brinker. We will miss so much about him—from bringing donut holes to granddaughters on Saturday mornings, to hanging out around the campfire at Montreat, to pulling for the Dawgs to win on Saturdays. But we'll have time to talk about all that when we gather on Saturday, May 17th, 2025, at Macland Community Church located at 3615 Macland Road in Powder Springs, Georgia. We'll have a Memorial Service at 2:00 PM. It will be a celebration of his life. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Matthew 25:40 Car Care Ministry or Montreat Campground, you will need to put "Montreat Campground" in Comments box.

Marion Eugene "Gene" Jernigan

December 18, 1937 - March 28, 2025