Jacky Lamar Gilreath

Mr. Jacky Lamar Gilreath, age 77, passed away at his home on Monday, March 4, 2024.

Funeral services will be held at 4:00 p.m. Thursday, March 7, 2024 in the Chapel of Memorial Park Funeral Home. Rev. Bill Trotter, Rev. Danny Brewster and Rev. Michael Green will officiate. Interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends at Memorial Park Funeral Home on Wednesday, March 6, 2024 from 2:00 until 4:00 p.m. and from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m.

Jack was born on Tuesday, April 16, 1946 in Gainesville, GA to Raymond Gilreath and Annie Bell (Hooper) Gilreath.  He served in the United States Army during Vietnam and after returning to the US he worked as an automotive mechanic for most of his adult life until his retirement. After re-dedicating his life to the service and ministry of Jesus Christ in the 1990’s there wasn’t a day that passed that Jack didn’t tell someone about his Savior. He and his beloved wife, Melinda, founded the Refuge Church in Murrayville, GA. Jack loved people and was a prayerful man. If you ever met Jack Gilreath, he prayed for you. That’s the kind of Christian he was.  Although he was serious by nature, he also loved a good laugh.  No one was above one of his scare pranks. He always had a smile to share with every person that crossed his path. He became a self-taught woodworker and made items for friends and family. He was a problem solver. If he couldn’t obtain something that was needed, he made it. He had an uncanny ability to see a project in his mind, draw it on paper, and then turn it into a reality. He loved his family deeply. To Jack, family meant more than blood relation. He often adopted people along the way and loved them as sons, daughters, brothers and sisters.

Jack is survived by sons, Branson Gilreath (Tracy) of Gainesville, Lane Gilreath (Michael) of Gainesville, Shane Stephens (Rachel) of Murrayville; daughters, Misty Ellis (Justin) of Cleveland, Amber Wilkerson (Preston) of Dahlonega; brothers, Ed Gilreath and Terry Gilreath both of Gainesville; sisters, Patricia Fowler, Betty Smith both of Murrayville and Brenda Gilreath of Gainesville; grandchildren, Kaleb Gilreath, Marah Gilreath, Skyler Samples, Noah Gilreath, Isabella Gilreath, Emily Martin (Tyler) , Kayanna Ellis, Kevin Ellis, Malachi Stephens, Elijah Stephens, Jeremiah Stephens, Christopher Melton, Journey Melton, Maryanne Wilkerson, Emilygrace Wilkerson, Johnny Wilkerson, Oaklynn Wilkerson; 5 great grandchildren.

Jack is preceded in death by his wife Melinda Ann (Fortner) Gilreath; parents, Raymond and Annie Bell (Hooper) Gilreath; brother, Bobby Gilreath.

Memorial Park Funeral Home, 2030 Memorial Park Road, Gainesville, GA  30504 is in charge of arrangements.

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