Jesse Tyler Jr.

Jesse Billmyre Tyler, Jr.

1935-2024

John 15:13

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends"

This verse speaks of the highest human exhibition of love that earth has ever seen.

Jesse Billmyre Tyler, Jr., was born on July 3, 1935 in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. He moved to Clarkston, Georgia as a child and graduated from Clarkston High School before working for AT&T for 37 years.

As work was being done in his parents' yard in 1984, Jesse pushed his father out of the way of a large falling tree and saved his life. The tree fell on Jesse instead of his father, causing permanent damage to his spine and leaving him confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Jesse was a true hero.

After the accident, Jesse became active in supporting other paraplegics. He was active in the Shepherd Center's Peer Support group and a member of MARTA'S Handicapped and Elderly Advisory Committee, becoming a chairman for 11 years. He was on the board of directors for the Atlanta Chapter for Independent Living. Member of MARTA'S Handicapped and Elderly Advisory Committee and was on the Atlanta Chapter for Independent Living's board of directors. Jesse was proud of his work with the America for Disabilities Act where he worked to improve accessibility for handicapped citizens through showing the need for curb cuts, ramps, wider door widths and accessibility to busses and trains.

Because of his service to the handicapped in his community, Jesse was given the honor of being a Torch Bearer for the 1996 Paralympics.

Jesse died peacefully at his home in Stone Mountain, Georgia on Sunday, September 8 at the age of 89. He was preceded in death by his wife, Eleanor Sue McLeod Tyler; daughter, Angela Dianne Tyler; grandson DJ; and his parents, Jesse Billmyre Tyler Sr. and Martha Pearl Brechbiel Tyler.

Survivors include his daughters, Judy Lynn Tyler and Tia Marie Tyler; and his sisters, Ruie Tyler Rawlins and Nedra Tyler Johnson. Jesse also had four grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, September 21, 2024 at 2 p.m. at A. S. Turner and Funeral Home Chapel in Decatur, Georgia with visitation beforehand at 1 p.m. Interment will be in Melwood Cemetery in Stone Mountain, Georgia