John Donnally Acree

1961 - 2015

John Donnally Acree

Nashville, TN

John Donnally (Don) Acree died in his family home in Oak Hill last Thursday, April 30, 2015.

Don was born in Memphis, TN on December 18, 1961 to Betty Ann (Brame) Acree and Dr. Maurice Mason Acree, Jr. He attended St. Dominic School for Boys in Memphis and Franklin Road Academy in Nashville before entering high school at The Baylor School in Chattanooga, TN.

Don excelled in academics and athletics throughout his school years and was Captain or Co-Captain of many of his sports teams, including Captain of his highly successful football team at Baylor.

First attending the University of Tennessee and then graduating from Memphis State University while a member of the SAE fraternity, Don went on to earn an MBA from Emory University in Atlanta, where he lived for many years after Memphis State and up until his 2004 through 2013 quest to help his father, whom Don loved, cherished, & defended at all costs with long, and heroic dedication, until his father's passing in 2013.

Don's primary interest was his family, but Don also enjoyed skydiving, reading, attending church, studying the concept of virtue, trading futures, and watching both college and high school sports, mainly football. Don loved his family and was particularly dedicated later in life to his older brother, Mason, and to his father, sacrificing greatly to help them in any way he could.

Don had a unique sense of humor and was one of the smartest people many ever met. As his friends have repeatedly related via many stories, Don would give the shirt off his back to help even a stranger. Don championed causes: if someone was being treated unjustly, Don would dedicate himself to right the wrong, often in the face of incredible odds and the likelihood of great personal expense or danger.

He was predeceased by his parents and his brother, Mason Acree, of Memphis, TN, and Pensacola, FL.

He is survived by his twin brother, Bill Acree of Nashville, sister, Cindi Acree Marshall of Memphis, & adopted sister, Carmen Haynes Acree of Nashville.

A generous and caring person throughout his life, Don will be forever held in the highest esteem and admired by all those who knew him as well as by those who learn of his story. He is dearly missed by his very grateful family; grateful for Don's lifelong love so valiantly lived out in courage and sacrifice.

A Memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church on Franklin Road on Wednesday, May 13, at 2 p.m. Visitation will be from Noon until the service at the church. A reception will follow the service at The University Club for all who wish to attend.

He will be laid to rest at a later date in Lumpkin, GA, in their family cemetery.

Condolences to www.NashvilleFuneralAndCremation.com, 615-256-1605.