Mr. George Brock Haley Jr.

1926-2010George Brock Haley, Jr. died peacefully in Atlanta, surrounded by loving family, on Sunday, January 31, 2010, as the result of melanoma cancer. He is survived by Betty, his wonderful loving wife of 59 years. Betty is the former Marjorie Elizabeth Griffiths of Winchester, Massachusetts. George is also survived by his and Betty’s four children and six grandchildren: daughter Susan Haley Brumfield, her husband Scott and their children Spencer and Haley; daughter Katherine Haley Herman, her husband Tom and their children Cullen and Caroline; son George Brock Haley III; son Victor Pearse Haley, his wife Elizabeth and their children Pearse and Helyn Louise (Weezie). All of the children and their families live in the Atlanta area, except Brock who lives in Victor, Idaho. George is also survived by three siblings and their spouses: sister Ruth Jeannine Smith and her husband Harry of Woodstock; brother Henry Carroll Haley and his wife Martha Ann of Calhoun; brother Charles Wesley Haley and his wife Beverly of Marietta, plus many nieces and nephews. Also surviving George are his aunt Ruth Long Alverson, cousins Patricia Alverson Kelly and Ruby Haley Moore.George was born in Atlanta on February 9, 1926, the son of George Brock and Naomi Alverson Haley. He attended the Atlanta Public Schools. As a youth under the age of nine he was a popular entertainer, giving humorous readings to civic, fraternal and religious groups in Atlanta. In June, 1943 he was graduated with honors by Atlanta Boys High School as class salutatorian and president of the student body. Encouraged by H.O. Smith, the legendary principal of Boys High, George applied for and was granted a scholarship to Harvard College. His studies there were interrupted by his service in the United States Army from 1944-1946. He served in Italy where on discharge he was first sergeant of the 281st Military Police Company stationed in Rome.He returned to Harvard and was graduated in 1948, A.B., Magna Cum Laude. In the fall of that year he entered Harvard Law School and met Betty, his future bride, while they were both visiting friends and relatives in Vermont. They were married June 24, 1950 in Betty’s home town of Winchester, and George was graduated from the Law School a year later. They then moved to Atlanta where George joined the law firm Smith, Kilpatrick, Cody, Rogers & McClatchey, later known as Kilpatrick & Cody and now Kilpatrick Stockton LLP. He was in active practice with the firm as associate and later partner for 43 years, retiring in 1994 to become of counsel to the firm until his death. During his earlier years with the firm he was active in firm management and in the recruitment of new associates. During most of George’s years with the firm he was engaged in a trial and appellate practice in the courts of Georgia, surrounding states and in the federal system, including an appeal and argument before the U.S. Supreme Court in 1960.George was a spokesperson for HOPE (Help Our Public Education), an organization formed in the 1960’s to support integration of Georgia’s public schools. He served as president of the Harvard Club of Atlanta and president of the Druid Hills Kiwanis Club. In 1963 he was designated by Harvard as its representative in the academic procession at the inauguration of Sanford Atwood as president of Emory University.He was a life member of these professional organizations: the American Bar Association, Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, the State Bar of Georgia, the Atlanta Bar Association, and the Lawyers Club of Atlanta. He also enjoyed life membership in the Capital City Club. He had served for many years as a trustee of the Frances Wood Wilson Foundation and was a member of the Board of Directors of the Atlanta Boys High School Alumni Association. He and Betty have been members of Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church for many years.George and Betty and their children enjoyed numerous family vacations together and in 1979 they all shared in the enjoyment of George’s three month sabbatical in Europe. Thereafter, George and Betty continued to enjoy European travel, usually on the rivers of that continent. Wherever travel took them, however, they were always happy to return to their second home, lakeside in the beautiful mountains of Rabun County.All who knew and loved him will remember him for his integrity, grace and kindness.The memorial service will be Thursday, February 4 at 11:00 a.m. in the Chapel of H.M. Patterson and Son, Spring Hill, 1020 Spring Street, NW, Atlanta, GA 30309. On Wednesday evening prior to the memorial service, between 5:00 and 7:00 p.m. the Haley family will receive friends and family at Patterson, Spring Hill. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Hospice Atlanta, 1244 Park Vista Drive, Atlanta, GA 30319, or to the Winship Cancer Institute at Emory, 1762 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30332.