Gerald T. Lord Sr.

Gerald Lord, Sr, beloved son, brother, husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather passed away Tuesday, January 27, 2026 after an extended illness at the Georgia War Veterans home in Milledgeville, Ga.

Gerald, born October 03, 1930, grew up on the family farm in Dexter, Ga and was the son of the late Ralph and Essie Mae (Parker) Lord. He attended Buckhorn School, and graduated from Dexter High School, Dexter, Georgia, in 1947. He was a member of the Beta Club and played on the high school basketball team. In 1949 he graduated from Southern Business University, Atlanta, Georgia, with associate degree in business administration. He later graduated from the University of Miami with his BS in Business Administration.

He proudly served his country in World War II, serving in the Air Force 308th Bombardment Wing as an airborne radio and micro-wave radio transmission technician on B-29 and B-36 bombers. Upon his return home, in 1955 he married the love of his life, Joan Graham Lord, and they moved to Atlanta where dad began his career with Southern Railway.

Working for the railroad took Gerald and his family to many different locations. Gerald and Joan moved to Miami, where their children, Gerry and Melanie, were born. Shortly after, they moved to Atlanta, then Dalton, Savannah and Brunswick, Ga. Gerald retired after 32 years of service with Southern Railway and they soon moved back home to the Dublin area.

After returning home, Gerald volunteered his services at the Carl Vinson Veterans Center in Dublin. For his efforts, he was awarded volunteer of the year. In his additional spare time, he became our family historian, working for over 30 years on researching our family tree. Through his efforts our family tree was traced back to 1535 and has over 51,000 entries.

Gerald and Joan were always involved in their local church and they quickly became active in the First Baptist Church of Dublin until their health kept them from attending.

Gerald was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Essie Mae Lord, his wife, Joan, and his brothers Wallace, Donald and Harold and his sister, Betty. He leaves behind his son, Gerry, his wife Terry and their children Duncan and Holly (Matthew), his daughter Melanie and her husband Ron and their children Rachel (Michael), Alex and Sarah and great grandchildren Joanna and McKenzie.

Visitation will be Saturday, January 31, 2026 at Townsend Brothers Funeral Home from 2-4 PM. There will be no funeral or gravesite services. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Hands of Ruth at First Baptist Church, Dublin, Ga.

The family would like to thank Jerry Dasher and Mr. and Mrs. Greg Williams for being such a great friend and help to our dad over the years. We also want to thank Brandi Hightower, with Home Instead, for the loving care she provided during dad's health decline.