John Mitchell Councilman

Paddle Ga is just around the corner and my husband and I were reminiscing about John. He was such a wonderful, warm, caring individual with a contagious sense of humor. We have all missed him a great deal these last few paddles and will always have him in our thoughts and prayers. He was truly a unique and special man. Diana Gafford and Larry Castillo.

My prayers are with the Councilman family. We have missed him for many years on our Paddle Georgia journeys. My favorite memory of John on those journeys is when he was mistaken for a homeless man while visiting downtown Rome after seven days on the Etowah River. He got quite a kick out of that. John always came to the river with a great attitude, a good joke and a love and concern for his friends and fellow paddlers. He was among the best, and he will be missed greatly. If there is ever a...

John was one of the most popular and beloved members of the Paddle Georgia community. He brightened each of our annual river trips with his inexhaustible supply of funny stories and his signature bright blue shirts. Oh, how we miss him!!
--Dee Stone

I've been looking back, literally (through family photos) and figuratively with my thoughts and memories of happy times. I remember family trips to the mountains mostly and dinners at Nana's and Daddy Da's. We'd sit and talk while eating Nana's delicious food. (I don't care what it was, it was better if Nana cooked it.) And John would share the funniest stories. Sometimes Charlene would chime in, and he'd say something like, Now, Honey, this is my story . . . And...

I was a classmate with John at Central and we were in the same graduating class of '67. He was a nice guy. He will be missed. God bless the family at this sad time. Rest in peace, John.