Jackelyn Kelly Kulzer, 27, of Atlanta, Georgia, was tragically taken from us on May 8, 2015. A fiercely upbeat, loyal, and compassionate daughter, sister, and friend, Jackie’s effervescent personality and unassailable love of life defined everything she did and will forever be cherished by the many people whom Jackie touched in her short time in this life. Jackie was born September 15, 1987, in Atlanta, Georgia to Cathleen Haywood Kulzer and John Peter Kulzer III. Growing up in Atlanta, Jackie and her older brother Matt shared a truly one-of-a-kind bond, serving as each other’s rock and constant source of companionship and entertainment throughout their childhood. Jackie attended Christ the King School and St. Pius X Catholic High School in Atlanta before setting off for the University of Mississippi, where she met the love of her life and future fiancé Christopher Freeman Byrd. A proud member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, Jackie graduated from Ole Miss in 2010 before attending the Masters program at the University’s Patterson School of Accountancy. Afterwards, she and Chris landed in Atlanta, where Jackie set her sights on a career in accounting as a Senior Assurance Advisor at BDO USA. Jackie’s effortless charm and infectious, seemingly permanent smile were second only to the unwavering devotion and kindness she bestowed upon her family, friends, and loved ones. She and her fiancé Chris shared a love for all things Ole Miss, never being ones to pass up an opportunity to revisit their old stomping grounds in Oxford to cheer on their beloved Rebels. Adored godparents to her nieces Madison and Carter, Jackie and Chris were set to marry near the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina, Chris’s hometown, in October 2015. Jackie was a bright, indescribably beautiful soul, hard-pressed to meet a stranger because to know Jackie was to be loved by her. Jackie is survived by her mother Cathy of Cumming, Georgia, and her father Pete of Santa Clarita, California; her grandparents Jerry and Mary Haywood of Palm Coast, Florida; her brother Matt and his wife Maggie of Atlanta; her aunt and uncle Patty and Mike Lamb of Dallas, Texas; her aunt Pam Norton of Cumming; her cousins Michael Hovanetz and Alexandra Norton; and her nieces Madison and Carter Bailey. The family is holding a wake on Wednesday, May 13, 2015 from 5 to 8 p.m. at H.M. Patterson & Son—Oglethorpe Hill Chapel. The funeral service will be held on Thursday, May 14, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. at Christ the King, with a reception at the church to follow. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Susan G. Komen; The Leukemia Lymphoma Society, 3715 Northside Parkway, NW, Atlanta, GA 30327; and the general scholarship fund for the University of Mississippi.
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