Obituary: MR. GARY WALLACE MCCONNELL

MR. GARY WALLACE MCCONNELL, age 78, a lifelong resident of Chattooga County, Georgia, passed away Monday, July 10, 2023, in a Rome hospital. He was the Son of the late John Frank McConnell and Margueritt Rea McConnell. Gary started his career in law enforcement working with his father, then Sheriff of Chattooga County. At the age of 21, while attending Mississippi State University, Gary’s Father died while serving as Sheriff and Gary took over the Sheriff’s position; he was the youngest sheriff in Georgia history. He was Sheriff of Chattooga County for 20 years and in 1991 was appointed Head of the Georgia Emergency Management Agency, GEMA, and was Head of the Georgia Olympic Law Enforcement Command. After retirement went He into private emergency management, where he helped other states with their emergency management agencies and emergencies.

Surviving are His wife, Lyndell Diane McConnell; daughter and companion, Rebecca Rea and Fox Carrasquillo; and grandson, Levi Cobb.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, July 13th, at 3:00 P.M. from the J. D. Hill Memorial Chapel of Earle Rainwater Funeral Home with Rev. J. Wesley Privett and Rev. Mike Cavin officiating, interment in Macedonia Cemetery. Active Pallbearers are Members of the Teloga Fire Department; Honorary Pallbearers Gary Blackwell, Patrick Wesson, Steve Baker, Butch Camp, Jeremy Elrod, Ken Anderson, Jerry Davenport, and All Public Safety Personnel. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Georgia Sheriff’s Youth Homes, #1000 Sheriff’s Way, Madison, GA.-30650, or online at https://georgiasheriffsyouthfoundation.org.

Visitation will be Wednesday from 5 until 7 P.M. at the Funeral Home.