August 18, 1934 - September 19, 2024
Atlanta, Georgia - Jerry A Kay (Jeremiah Albert Kay) passed away very peacefully at his home from natural causes on September 19, 2024. He was born on August 18, 1934, in Bradenton, Florida to James Albert and Laura Ione Dodson Kay. A 1952 graduate of Manatee County High School and graduate of the University of Florida with a BSBA in Finance, he served two years in the U. S. Army and honorably discharged in 1959. He began his banking career with the Manatee National Bank of Bradenton but joined the First National Bank of Atlanta in 1962 retiring after almost 30 years as Vice President and Trust Investment Officer of Wachovia Bank (now Wells Fargo Bank) in 1990. He was a member of various professional organizations, a member of Sons of the American Revolution, a former Board Member of the Atlanta Opera and was of the Episcopal faith.
For over 40 years he enjoyed international travel, visiting most European countries with special memories of Turkey, India, Egypt and Australia. For many years he maintained a second home near Cashiers, NC and more recently in the Mountains of Rabun County, GA. Both were always shared with family and friends.
Jerry was an avid amateur genealogist becoming in 1982 a Charter Member of the Hackers Creek Pioneer Descendants of Weston, WV. He co-founded in 1988 with three cousins The Kay Family Association-USA and served as President and Treasurer. He assisted in organizing two National Kay Family Reunions, two "Roots" tours to England and co-published four books related to the Descendants of Robert Kay, Sr. of SC. In 1998 he was a Founder Member of The Kay Family Association-UK. He was proud that all his ancestors, but two immigrated to our country before the American Revolution and amused that the two, a Hessian Artillery Captain and a Hessian drummer boy, deserted to the Mountains of VA. He was especially proud that his Paternal and Maternal families had served our country in every war fought to preserve our freedoms.
Jerry is preceded in death by his parents, sister Sally Lou Kay Entzminger, paternal grandparents Charles Marshall and Sallie Isabella Robinson Kay, maternal grandparents Charles Phillip and Margaret Elizabeth Forinash Dodson. He is survived by niece Janna Kay Entzminger and friend Mark, four nephews John (Deborah), Jared (Stacie), James "JT" Entzminger and Joel (Carolyn) Cameron and six great nephews Matt, Josh and Charlie Cameron and Jacob, Josiah and Jessie Entzminger, special Cousins and Friends. He is also survived by two very special caregivers Audrey Raglan and Cordell Shorter.
Honoring his request, there will be no funeral service in Atlanta, GA. Cremains will be interred with his parents in Eastview Cemetery, Honea Path, Anderson County, SC. A graveside service may be held later to be announced. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The J. A. Kay Library Intern Endowment Fund, South Caroliniana Library, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208 or to a charity of your choice.
