It was not unusual to see him walking through town or riding his bike. And it was not unusual for Doug Henry to be helping others. Initial reports indicate that’s what he was doing when he died Monday.
Henry, a well-known Clarkesville attorney, rode his bike to deliver a meal to a friend. While there, he suddenly collapsed and died of a massive heart attack. Henry was taken to Habersham Medical Center in Demorest where he was pronounced dead, according to county coroner Kasey McEntire. McEntire says Henry’s death was not related to COVID-19.
News of Doug Henry’s death sent shockwaves through the tight-knit community he served.
Northeast Georgia PeacWORKS, which Henry supported, remembered him as a man of “wisdom” and “great integrity” who “had a huge heart committed to making the world a better place.”
Habersham County Magistrate Judge Gerald Johnson offered this touching tribute:
“I am saddened by the loss of Doug Henry. I first met Doug while serving as a Habersham County Detention Officer in the 1990s. As a rookie jailer, Doug was not how I had imagined an attorney. Unlike the lawyers I had seen on television and in movies, which was the only experience I could draw from at that time, Doug was kind, pleasant, and always appeared legitimately glad to see me whenever our paths would cross. Over the years, as our relationship evolved, I came to the realization that he truly cared about people and his community. Although at times his style came across as a bit awkward, I believed he created this elusion attempting to disguise the fact that he was brilliant and an incredibly deep thinker.
As Chief Magistrate Judge, lawyer, neighbor, and friend, he listened with his whole heart while processing every word of a conversation. His love for life and his sense of humor were contagious. In the courtroom, both as Judge and attorney, he had a unique gift for making folks feel comfortable. In litigation, I have observed on many occasions opposing counsel and/or litigants walking away with an affection for Doug; even if the decision was not in their favor. I believe this was a direct result of his kindness, his consistently genuine and pleasant demeanor.
Doug was an astute jurist. He had a common-sense approach to applying the law to people’s situations and circumstances while seeking the best positive outcomes for everyone. To my pleasant surprise, I discovered Doug was a very talented actor as well in the Fall of 2019. I will cherish one of our last conversations when I jokingly told him that I was star struck by him and wanted his autograph. His whole face lit up as he erupted in his signature laughter.
I will sincerely miss seeing him wandering around Clarkesville but most important to me, I will miss his wisdom, wit, and friendship. God bless his memory, his positive impact on so many of us, and his legacy.” – Habersham County Chief Magistrate Judge Gerald Johnson
Those wishing to send cards to the family may send them in care of the Douglas L. Henry law office at P.O. Box 1257, Clarkesville, GA 30523.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Whitfield Funeral Home in Baldwin.
Doug Henry was 71.
