Mr. Gerald L. “Jerry” Locke, 69, a lifelong resident of Chattahoochee, Florida passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family on Saturday, June 29, 2019. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Chattahoochee. Jerry was a person who lived life taking care of and serving others. Jerry was very active in his community and was a tireless and selfless volunteer for the Meals on Wheels mission for many years and was even awarded Volunteer of the Year for Gadsden County one year. He always had a smile on his face and could make anyone laugh in an instant. Jerry’s children and grandchildren were the pride and joy of his life. The legacy of Jerry’s kind spirit, passion for sports, and zest for life will live on through them. Jerry was one of the first inductees of The Gadsden County Sports Hall of Fame and was a member of the 1965 and 1967 Chattahoochee High School State Champion Basketball Teams. He also went on to play two years of basketball for Chipola Junior College. He was a member of the River Junction Hunting Club and an avid Florida State Seminole fan. Jerry was retired from Gulf Power after 31 years of dedicated service. He was a kind and gentle person who loved to fellowship with family and friends, go fishing, tell jokes and just having fun. He will be missed deeply by his family and many friends, but never forgotten.
Jerry is survived by his daughter, Staci Locke Arnold and her husband Luke of Sneads; his son, Chad Locke and his wife Angie of Sneads; his mother, Rachel Locke of Chattahoochee; his sister, Carolyn Faye Smith of Woodstock, GA; two brothers, Dale E. Locke and his wife Judy of Tallahassee and Curtis W. Locke and his wife Pam of Chattahoochee; four grandchildren, Lauren Locke Wood and her husband Taylor, Lindsey Locke Harrell and her husband Madison, Dillon Arnold and Elizabeth Grace “Sister” Arnold; two brothers in law, Ray Poythress and James Meadows; a special friend and companion, Marinda Wilson as well as many nieces and nephews.
Jerry was preceded in death by his wife, the love of his life, Bobbie Jean Locke; his father Marvin Locke; a sister in law, Carol Meadows; a brother in law, John Smith and his father and mother in law, Gene and Elizabeth Poythress.
Visitation with family and friends will be held at McAlpin Funeral Home in Sneads, FL on Monday, July 1, 2019 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Eastern Time. Graveside services will be at McAlpin Cemetery in Chattahoochee, FL on Tuesday, July 2, 2019 at 10:00 AM Eastern Time with Rev. Juno Douglas officiating and McAlpin Funeral Home directing. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Chattahoochee Public Library or Big Bend Hospice.
