Albert Henley (Hank) Sturgess, Jr. was called home to the House of the Lord on January 26, 2025, at the age of 103. He was born on May 17, 1921, in Johnstown, Pennsylvania to Albert Henley Sturgess and Julia Elizabeth Krieger. He was predeceased by his beloved wife Charlotte T. Holmes – to whom he was married 54 years – and his daughter Elizabeth Ann Sturgess. Hank is survived by his son Robert Henley Sturgess, daughter-in-law Anne Sturgess, granddaughter Frances Julia Sturgess, stepsister Eleanor Whitfield, cousin Jerry Mowell, and several nephews and nieces.
Having moved to Atlanta in 1931 with his parents, he attended E. Rivers Elementary, graduated from North Fulton High School in 1938 and from Emory University in 1942 as Phi Beta Kappa, Omicron Delta Kappa, and Senior Honor Society. In 1942 he received a commission as Ensign in the Navy, graduating first in his class. While serving as CIO on the destroyer USS Radford during WWII in the Solomon Islands, Philippines, New Guinea and the central Pacific, he earned nine battle stars and the Presidential Unit Citation for bravery and outstanding performance, including the rescue of 448 survivors from the sunken cruiser USS Helena while under constant attack from Japanese warships.
Hank left the Navy in 1946 as a Senior Grade Lieutenant and joined his father in the real estate business. Hank later formed his own firm, was a lifetime member of the Board of Realtors’ Million Dollar Club, earned the prestigious Phoenix Award, was President of the Atlanta Board of Realtors, first Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Board’s Educational Foundation, Dean of the Georgia Institute of Real Estate, and led Atlanta’s establishment of one of the nation’s first Commercial Board of Realtors. He was President of the Sandy Springs Chamber of Commerce, President of the North Fulton Optimist Club, and President of the Atlanta Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution.
In 1950 he and Charlotte joined Rock Spring Presbyterian Church, serving as an elder and teacher of adult Sunday School classes. In 1994, Hank and Charlotte became members of Mount Vernon Baptist Church. He served as a deacon, an elder, and an adult class teacher. He was instrumental in establishing the Sandy Springs Mission, which ministers primarily to children in Sandy Springs. Hank held a deep faith in Jesus Christ, was a true patriot, and was devoted to his family.
A celebration of his life will be held at Mt. Vernon Baptist Church at 850 Mt. Vernon Highway, NW, Sandy Springs 30327 at Friday, January 31, 2025 at 10:00 AM with Dr. Aaron Menikoff officiating. A reception will follow at the church. Interment will be at Arlington Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his name to the missions fund at Mt. Vernon Baptist Church.
