George Douglas “Doug” Cagle, 67 (who looked 47 according to him and almost everyone else), was surrounded by family as he ascended the stairway to heaven on March 19, 2020. He lived a full and beautiful life for 63 years until he was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s disease. He put up a fierce battle akin to WWE WrestleMania until the very end.
Doug, a native Atlantan, grew up in Cascade Heights and later moved to East Point. He started riding and showing horses as a young boy. His favorite horse was a beautiful American Saddlebred named Cagle’s Pride that he showed throughout the southeast with great success. Doug preferred showing gaited horses, but he also showed Tennessee Walking horses with his brother David and his father, Doug Sr. The Cagle family were local celebrities, winning the Atlanta Classic Horse Show Amateur Walking Horse Competition with their champion horse Big Talk.
Doug attended Arlington High School where he was senior class president, a member of the National Honor Society and played point guard the year that the team won the Georgia state basketball championship, class C. When his high school girlfriend was unable to attend senior prom, his mother suggested he ask the pretty girl next door, Suzanne Rollins, whom he later married.
The Cagle family loves cars, and Doug was no exception. He always wished he had kept his 1968 baby blue Shelby GT350. He was also very lucky to walk away from two dangerous situations with Corvettes: one was totaled after hydroplaning and one caught fire. Contrary to these incidents, he was actually an excellent driver, a trait he did not pass down to his daughter who is terrible behind the wheel. During a torrential downpour at a Walton High School football game, Doug successfully extracted his son’s truck from a tricky mudslide situation that most could not have maneuvered. He liked to accuse his now son-in-law, Sean, of driving on his precious grass. Sean wants it noted that he never drove on Mr. Cagle’s grass.
Doug graduated from Georgia State University, married Suzanne and had a successful career from 1974 to 2015 at Cagle’s, Inc., a family-owned poultry company. Like any true Southerner, he loved God, his family, Braves baseball, air conditioning, 680 The Fan, coaching his son’s basketball teams, fried chicken and sweet tea. He often reminisced about the good old days at Daytona Beach and loved being blonde, tan and fit.
Doug is preceded in death by his grandparents, George and Letty Mae Cagle, and Hershel and Mary Waters; his mother, Gloria Cagle; and his brother David Cagle. He is survived by his father, James Douglas Cagle; his children D’anne Cagle Heckert (Sean) and Dalton Cagle; and his adorable granddaughter, Ce’zanne Heckert, who he liked to call “Boo.” Although his granddaughter only knew him after his diagnosis, they always had a special bond. It was almost as if she knew she wouldn’t have him for long and, therefore, gave him extra love and attention. Suzanne and Doug divorced after more than two decades together, but continued to be best friends and role models for their children.
Suzanne and Doug discoed at Limelight—now known as Disco Kroger—and even won several dance competitions. His rhythm and charisma were undeniable. His daughter and son last danced with him just a few weeks ago at Orchard at Brookhaven. Deb Bowman sang a stunning rendition of “Drift Away” by Dobie Gray at his ceremony, which perfectly encapsulated the paradox of who he truly was and the effects of Alzheimer’s. His family will forever think of Doug when they hear music from the ‘80s, especially .38 Special.
The last year was full of incredible family memories, including an Alaskan cruise, a week at the beach, Doug’s 67th birthday party with old friends, his granddaughter’s 3rd birthday party, brunch every Saturday, and big celebrations for Easter, Halloween and Christmas.
The family honored the nation’s request for social distancing due to the Coronavirus pandemic, holding a private service for immediate family only.
Psalms 103:2-5
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