J. Clifford "Cliff" McCurry

1948 - 2025

J. Cliff McCurry, 77, a well-known and respected community leader, philanthropist, and businessman, passed away peacefully at home on July 31st.

Originally from Clayton, Georgia, Cliff was the son of Arthur James McCurry and Mary Agnes Lee McCurry. They moved to Savannah when Cliff was a toddler, and he called the city home for the rest of his remarkable life.

In 1970, Cliff married his high school sweetheart, Kathryn "Kathy" Jurelle Hooper and they were incredibly loving parents to two sons, James Clifford McCurry, Jr. and Edward Lee McCurry. The highlight of both "Big Daddy" and "Nana's" lives was their five grandchildren James Clifford McCurry, III, Eleanor Kendall McCurry, Cannon Hill McCurry, Brinkley Kathryn McCurry, and Landry Lee McCurry. Cliff and Kathy were long-time, devoted members of St. Thomas' Episcopal Church and gave of their time and talents to support their church family.

In addition to their legitimate family, Cliff and Kathy were "uncle" and "aunt" to an unruly and suspect group of knuckleheads who, along with their own children, regularly congregate as the Griswolds. Cliff was also a surrogate dad to a selection of now aging young men to whom he was a great mentor and cherished role model.

Growing up, Cliff attended Richard Arnold School and was a 1966 graduate of Savannah High School. With the encouragement and assistance from the late Coach Cy Wright, Cliff walked onto the basketball team at Armstrong State College, eventually earning a scholarship and letter before transferring to the University of Georgia. At UGA, he earned his BBA in risk management and insurance from the Terry College of Business and was a proud member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. From then on, his blood ran Red and Black, and he was an absolutely Damn Good Dawg.

Returning to Savannah after graduation, Cliff began working for his mentor, Nick Mamalakis, at Mercer Insurance Agency. Mr. Mamalakis was "Boss", but so profoundly more to Cliff and his family. It was widely understood that Mr. Nick believed in Cliff's potential, invested in him personally and professionally and set an example that Cliff sought to emulate throughout his life and career. In his honor, Cliff and Kathy established the Nick Mamalakis Emerging Leaders Program at Armstrong Atlantic State University, now Georgia Southern University, in order to share Mamalakis' legacy and example with generations to come.

Cliff McCurry had more than 50 years of commercial insurance brokerage and risk management experience and held executive management positions with Sterling Seacrest Pritchard, Willis HRH, and Jones, Hill, & Mercer. He held the Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) professional designation and was a mentor to many within the insurance industry.

In recognition of his professional and community service, Cliff has received a number of prestigious awards, including being named a distinguished alumnus of Armstrong State University (2017), a community hero by the Southeast Georgia chapter of the American Red Cross (2013), the Terry College of Business risk management and insurance alumnus of the year (2011), induction to the Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame (2019), the Southeast Georgia Leadership Forum "Leadership Award" (2021), the Elevate Savannah Community Leader Award (2024), and the Terry College of Business Distinguished Alumni Award (2025).

Cliff's altruism was obvious, and his community involvement spanned decades. He is widely known for his willingness to put in long hours for worthy causes. His community and civic activities included serving in leadership positions on numerous local and regional not-for-profit and community service boards. He was an emeritus member of the Terry College Alumni Board and a UGA Foundation Emeritus Trustee. He was proud to have been a Past Chairman of both the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce and the Savannah Economic Development Authority and deeply appreciated his involvement with the St. Joseph's/Candler Health System Foundation and Hospital boards. Cliff also greatly enjoyed supporting younger generations through decades of involvement on the board of the Jenkins Athletic Club and the boards of Savannah Christian Preparatory School and Bethesda Academy.

Cliff is predeceased by his parents, his wife Kathy, and his son Lee. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law Jamie and Kendall, their children Ford, Eleanor, and Brinkley; and by his daughter-in-law Melissa and her children Cannon and Landry; and by his godchildren and countless friends that were all considered family.

A memorial service will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at St. Thomas Episcopal Church. A reception will immediately follow in the Parish Hall.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Cliff's memory can be made to St. Thomas' Episcopal Church on the Isle of Hope (2 St. Thomas Avenue, Savannah, Ga 31406) or to the Nick Mamalakis Emerging Leaders Program c/o the Georgia Southern University Office of Leadership and Community Engagement (attn. Rachel West, 11935 Abercorn St., Savannah, Ga 31419).