Jack McMullen Deacon Jr., USAR (Ret.)

Rather than go to another quilt show with his wife, Jack McMullen Deacon Jr., 79, passed away peacefully on April 24th, 2026. He was surrounded by his wife and two daughters, who told him bad jokes and played his favorite rock n’ roll songs.

Born in Atlanta in 1946 to John McMullen Deacon Sr and Elma Hall, Jack graduated high school from Gordon Military College in 1967, Georgia State College in 1970 with a Bachelors of Business Administration, and from the Woodrow Wilson College of Law in 1975 with a Juris Doctor. Jack’s draft number was 4, so after his graduation from Georgia State College, he made the decision to enroll in the US Army Reserves. He proudly served his country for 22 years, achieving the rank of Staff Sargent.

Jack married the love of his life in 1985, moved to Mableton GA, and was blessed with two daughters, who put most of the gray hairs on his head. He retired in 2016, and moved to Fernandina Beach, FL, where he enjoyed exploring the state parks, photographing the local wildlife, and volunteering at the Jacksonville International Airport, handing out Hershey’s kisses to the anyone that passed him by.

He is preceded in death by his parents, step-brother James Dala Deacon, and sister-in-law Margaret Boyle. He is survived by his wife Patricia Gaffney, daughters Carolyn (Bryan) Courtney, Suzanne Deacon (Brian Dawes), grandson Jackson Courtney and sister Patricia Edmundson. Sisters-in-law Eileen (Edmund) Savold, Mary (Bert) Sanford, brothers-in-law Gerard (Anne Marie) Gaffney, Thomas (Dorothy) Gaffney, and former brother-in-law Brian Boyle, along with a long list of nieces and nephews.

The Funeral mass will be held on May 13th at 11 am at Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Mission Church in Yulee, FL. A memorial mass will be held at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Smyrna, GA on Tuesday June 2nd at 7 pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to either the Georgia State University Library or your local library.