A Cornelia man killed in a motorcycle wreck earlier this week will be laid to rest Saturday. A “celebration of life” service will be held for Jerald Freeman on October 11 at 4 p.m. at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Cornelia. The church is located at 8503 Pea Ridge Road. Burial will follow in the church cemetery with full military honors
Freeman was found dead in a ravine off Pea Ridge Road less than two miles from his home Wednesday. His brother, Joel Freeman of Demorest, discovered his body. Family members had been searching for Freeman since the previous day when he disappeared while driving his motorcycle home from Florida.
Authorities were called to the accident scene near the intersection of Pea Ridge Road and Laurel Ridge Drive in Hall County at 7:45 p.m. Wednesday. Georgia State Patrol Corporal Dallas Van Scoten says the investigation into the accident shows Freeman was rounding a curve when his motorcycle ran off the east shoulder of the road, crossed the center line to the west shoulder and ran down an embankment. Freeman was thrown from his motorcycle about 16 feet down while his bike continued traveling, stopping at the bottom of the 20-foot ravine. Authorities say the wreck appears to have happened sometime between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Freeman was the owner of About Time Tree Service in Cornelia and also worked as a skydiving instructor in Atlanta. He was a 1985 graduate of Habersham Central High School in Mt. Airy and a 1987 graduate of Truett McConnell College in Cleveland.
An Army veteran and outdoor enthusiast who enjoyed riding motorcycles, traveling and skydiving, Freeman is remembered by friends as a man who loved life. One childhood friend posted a moving tribute to him Thursday on Now Habersham:
First of all, my prayers are with Mr. and Mrs. Freeman, Joel, Nicole and Jaden. Jerald was my best friend growing up. If someone asked where I was, the answer most times was “Where is Jerald? If you find him, you’ll find Scott.” Since I’ve been in the Army, I haven’t been able to see Jerald for many, many years which is clearly my loss. Jerald was the most fun and loyal friend anyone could ask to have in their life. A significant part of my childhood died on Tuesday. If you haven’t lately, give that best friend in your life a call…today! You just never know when that opportunity will no longer be available. God bless, Scott Mewborne
Many more tributes have been shared with Freeman’s family through social media; friends and strangers alike expressing shock and deep sadness over his death.
Freeman’s wife, Nicole, reached out to the online community on Tuesday after her husband failed to arrive home from Florida. She says he was last seen Tuesday morning at a hotel in Sycamore in southwest central Georgia. She lost cellphone contact with him that afternoon and, when he didn’t return home, launched a frantic search through law enforcement and social media to find him.
In addition to his wife, Freeman is survived by his daughter, Jaden Beth Freeman; his parents, J.B and Joyce Christopher Freeman of Cornelia; and his brother and sister-in-law, Joel and Cindy Freeman of Demorest.
The family will receive friends from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 10, at McGahee-Griffin & Stewart Funeral Home in Cornelia.
In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that donations be made to the Jerald B. Freeman Memorial Fund; c/o Joel Freeman, PO Box 33, Clarkesville, GA 30523. All donations will benefit Jerald’s daughter, Jaden.
An online guest register is available and may be viewed at www.mcgaheegriffinandstewart.com.
Click here for more details on funeral arrangements.
