John Errol Cornelius

The man who would be known as a compassionate soul, loving husband and incredible father was born on January 19, 1950 in Birmingham, AL to the parents of Jack Cornelius (born Birmingham’s, AL) and Virginia Nuzzo Cornelius (born Tunis, Tunisia - French Protectorate) grace a WWII.

At a young age this Franco-Maltese American enjoyed living in Marseille briefly before moving with his mother to Miami, FL where he still used double negatives and spent summers with grandma Mary ‘Mosy’ Gladys. John graduated university of Alabama in 1972 and went on to serve in the aviation industry beginning with Pan Am and retiring at Delta as a steward and language instructor for over 30 years where he was fluent or proficient in over a dozen languages.

A man of the world he frequented 6 continents, naturally blended into any population, and became whole when he met and married - thanks to a mutual friend - the marvelous Nurdan Nunu Kocaer in Miami, FL and at Hidiv Kasri in Istanbul, Turkey respectively. Together they moved to Miami FL where they had two children, Kyle Eren (1990) and Pauline Meliz (1992). Soon after the Cornelius family relocated to and remained in Atlanta GA.

Over the years, he earned many nicknames by the many lives he so positively impacted: John Errol, John Earl, my Johnny, Johnnie, Johnnie Boy, Mr. John, papa, baba, Daddyo, cousin, canim, Enişte, brother, warrior and even lovingly a monster. A chef, avid reader, salt lover and history buff with the spirit of a champion, his raison d’être was always his wife and kids.

He is survived by his wife Nurdan and two children Kyle and Pauline as well as her spouse Lucas Snell.

Mama Mia Santa Luchia!

In lieu of flowers please consider a gift to the Cobb COVID-19 Community Response Fund.

Donations can be made online at cobbfoundation.org/coronavirus-information/

or by clicking here. Alternatively, checks should be made payable to Cobb Community Foundation with “Cobb COVID-19 Fund In memory of John Errol Cornelius in the memo line.