Arthur Jacobs III

Arthur Jacobs, III, a devoted husband, loving father and grandfather, proud United States Navy veteran, and a man whose life reflected the quiet strength of hard work and commitment to family, passed away on September 1, 2026.

Arthur was born on June 9, 1950, in Bessemer, Alabama, to Arthur Jacobs, Jr. and Esther Jeanette Mize Jacobs. He grew up in the Bessemer community and later attended UAB (The University of Alabama Birmingham).

From 1969 until 1975, Arthur faithfully served his country in the United States Navy. His years of military service reflected qualities that would remain evident throughout his life—dedication, responsibility, perseverance, and a willingness to serve. He carried the honor of being a Navy veteran with him throughout his life.

Following his military service, Arthur continued to demonstrate the value he placed on an honest day’s work. His career included 15 years with Harland Checking Company and three years with Golden Flake before he began a 15-year career with Frito-Lay, from which he retired. Dependable and hardworking, Arthur provided for his family with dedication and took great pride in the life he and his wife built together.

For Arthur, however, life was about much more than work. His greatest happiness was found in the people he loved, especially his beloved wife, Geraldine “Gerri” Q. Jacobs. For 51 years, Arthur and Gerri shared a life filled with the ordinary and extraordinary moments that make a marriage a lifetime—raising a family, making memories, traveling together, and simply enjoying one another’s company. Some of their happiest times were spent relaxing on the beach or setting sail on a cruise, leaving the routines of everyday life behind for a little sunshine, ocean air, and adventure together.

And Arthur knew how to bring humor into family life. With a name like Arthur, he occasionally bestowed a title upon himself, jokingly referring to himself as “King Arthur” to his wife and children. It was the kind of playful family joke that became uniquely his—a little glimpse of the humor and personality behind the hardworking man they loved.

Arthur was also an avid sports fan who especially enjoyed baseball and tennis. He was a member of the United Methodist Church of Bessemer, and his life was marked by the qualities that mattered most to him: loyalty, perseverance, responsibility, and love of family.

Those who knew Arthur will remember a man who worked hard, loved deeply, laughed with the people closest to him, and remained devoted to those entrusted to his care. He did not measure a successful life by possessions or recognition, but by providing for his family, being present for those he loved, and enjoying the life they created together.

Arthur leaves behind his wife of 51 years, Geraldine Q. Jacobs; his children, Jennifer Leigh Barnett and her husband, Jeffrey Clint Barnett, of Harrisburg, North Carolina, and Michael Lamar Jacobs and Kristen Leigh Jacobs of Jackson, Georgia; his grandchildren, Ella Grace Barnett, Andrew Chase Jacobs, Skylar Chance Jacobs, and Mika Christian Jacobs; and his great-granddaughter, Aleya Curtis Jacobs.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur Jacobs, Jr. and Esther Jeanette Mize Jacobs.

After more than half a century of marriage, countless family memories, years of faithful work and service to his country, and journeys shared along the way, Arthur leaves those who loved him with something enduring: the example of a life built steadily and faithfully around the people who mattered most.

The sailor has reached his final shore, the hardworking hands are now at rest, and the family who affectionately knew their own “King Arthur” is left with a lifetime of stories, laughter, and love to carry forward.

A celebration of life will be held with Navy Military Honors on Monday, September 28, 2026 at 1:15 pm at Alabama National Cemetery in Montevallo. Those attending will need to arrive at 1:00 pm to line up to process to the committal shelter.