Ronald Maurice Heckman

Ronald Maurice Heckman, 67, entered into rest on Dec. 1, 2016.
He is survived by his wife, Beth; siblings Carl Heckman (Cynthia) of Atlanta, Mark Heckman (Maria) of Atlanta, and Joanna Jackson (Roy), of Louisville, Ky. He is also survived by his daughters Jennifer Gibbons (Michael), Mt Pleasant, S.C. and Kimberley Shaw (Danny), Atlanta. He leaves behind three grandchildren, Allie and Parker Gibbons, Mt. Pleasant, S.C. and Kensley Shaw, Atlanta, and nieces and nephews Peter Heckman, Andy Heckman, Ashley Giljum (Brian), Roy Jackson Jr., and Taylor Jackson, and a host of cousins, aunts and great nieces. He also leaves behind Bella, the most wonderful Wheaten terrier you could ever know.
He was predeceased by his parents, Maurice Wilbur and Johnnie Wilma Heckman.
Ron was a man of deep faith and of the highest integrity. He was a devoted family man, loving husband, father, grandfather and uncle, and a man who never met a stranger.
Born March 4, 1949 in Indianapolis, he moved to Tucker, Ga. when he was eight years old. He graduated from Tucker High School in 1967, and from Georgia State University in 1977 with a degree in Business Administration. Ron was a member of the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. Through the years he has maintained close relationships with his high school and college friends.
From 1970-2011, he worked with Heckman and Associates, a real estate appraisal firm founded by his father. In 2011, he joined SunTrust Bank as Vice President and Chief Review Appraiser, Consumer Credit Risk Management. He was extremely passionate and dedicated to his work and truly appreciated his work family. He was an organizing member and former board member of the Georgia Real Estate Fraud Prevention and Awareness Coalition (GREFPAC). Ron was appointed to the Georgia Real Estate Appraisers Board in 2014.
He was a member of Eastminster Presbyterian Church, where he served as a Deacon. He was also a youth sports coach and active in many community organizations.
Ron will be remembered for his passion for sharing a good story with anyone he came in contact with, his love of a good meal, and, most of all, his love of family. Nothing made him smile bigger than hearing of his grandchildren's accomplishments and talking with them about anything from major life accomplishments to the smallest of life's little victories. He was also so proud of his daughters and the amazing women they had become as adults.
He also had a great love of sports (in particular Georgia Tech, Georgia State, Atlanta Falcons and Braves).
Ron gave his last breath after a valiant battle with cancer. It was his fourth cancer since the age of 27. When he passed, the cancer died with him, so cancer did not win. It was a tie. Ron ended his career record against the horrible disease at 3-0-1, so guess what cancer -- you lost. Ron won the series.
Visitation will be Thursday. Dec. 8, from 6-8 p.m. at A.S. Turner & Sons Funeral Home, 2773 North Decatur Road, Decatur, Ga., 30033 . Funeral services will be held on Friday, Dec. 9, at 2 p.m. at Eastminster Presbyterian Church, 5801 Hugh Howell Road, Stone Mountain, GA 30087.

Those wishing to make a donation in lieu of flowers can donate to Dekalb Medical Foundation, dekalbmedical.org/foundation or Eastminster Presbyterian Church.


Funeral Home:
A. S. Turner & Sons
2773 North Decatur Road
Decatur, GA
30033