John Strother

John R. Strother, Jr., 76, native Atlantan, died at home September 26, 2011. He graduated from Druid Hills High School, where he served as President of the Student Body. He received his bachelor’s degree and law degree from Emory University. While at Emory, he was a member of the Chi Phi fraternity and a number of other campus organizations. He served as the Student Body President of Emory and received the Brittain Award for distinguished service to the University.

John had a general law and trial practice for 27 years with the firms of Strother & Sturgis, Dorsey & Dorsey, and Strother, Weiner & Dwyer. During his years in law practice, he served as Assistant Fulton County Attorney and Special Assistant Attorney General. He was President of The Lawyer’s Club of Atlanta and The Old War Horse Lawyer’s Club.

In 1985, he accepted an appointment to serve as United States Magistrate Judge for the Northern District of Georgia, a position he held for 17 years. He served as Chief Magistrate Judge for the District and for the last five years of his career on the bench sat in the Gainesville Division. Following retirement from the Court, he served in numerous fiduciary capacities.

He was a member of the Gridiron Society and an active member of Emory Baptist Church until its dissolution. He served in the U.S. Air National Guard.

He enjoyed hunting and fishing with his many friends.

John was predeceased by his parents, John R. Strother and Bernice Smith Strother. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Elsie, his daughter, Mary Strother Sullivan (David) of Weston, MA, his son, Jack Strother (Catalina) of Savannah, and six grandchildren: Margot and Alec Strother, Laura, George, John, and Zachary Sullivan.

Visitation: Friday, Sept. 30, 6-8 p.m., H.M. Patterson & Son, Oglethorpe Hill, 4550 Peachtree Rd. Funeral Services: Saturday, October 1, 10:30 a.m., Second Ponce de Leon Baptist Church, 2715 Peachtree Rd. Interment: Saturday, Sept. 30, 4 p.m., Walhalla, SC.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to: The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, 811 W. Evergreen Ave., Suite 303, Chicago, IL 60642.