Jesse Eugene 'Gene' Cornett, 83, Dies

Jesse Eugene “Gene” Cornett, 83 of Hiram, passed away on Monday, Dec. 2, at his residence.

Mr. Cornett was born on Aug. 5, 1930 in Cartersville, the son of the late Jesse and Effie Cornett.

He retired from the Atlanta Fire Department where he worked as a firefighter and inspector and was a veteran of the United States Air Force. Mr. Cornett was a member of the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church and enjoyed singing, fishing, woodworking (birdhouses), and spending time with his family. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by five sisters, Doris Ray, Grace Brown, Linda Brown, Bobbie Shumate, and Dora Spencer; and a brother, Robert Cornett.

Mr. Cornett is survived by his wife of 61 years, Mrs. Barbara Williams Cornett; two daughters, Marlis Cornett of Cartersville and Lynn (John) Dunaway of Douglasville; three sons, Mark Cornett of Dallas, David (Jimmie) Cornett of Ballground, and Micah (Jennifer) Cornett of Augusta; thirteen grandchildren, Jessi Cornett of New York, Hannah Hester of Dallas, Amanda (Jeff) Overdorff of Hiram, Adam (Jessica) May of Carrollton, Samatha (Rick) Wadsworth of Dallas, Rachel and Samuel Cornett of Ballground, Ryan Cornett of Dallas, Jonathan Cornett of Ballground, Zack Dunaway of Douglasville, Lauren Cornett of Augusta, Bryant Dunaway of Rockford, IL, Christopher Cornett of Augusta, and Kristen King of Norcross; five sisters, Joan Bennett, Mary (Charles) Siniard, Olene Kordecki, Ann (Jerry) Garland, and Sherry Cornett, all of Cartersville; nine great grandchildren, Lauran Hester, Hunter Hester, Iliyana Overdorff, Brent Wadsworth, Wyatt May, Gabriel Overdorff, Rebecca May, Isabelle Wadsworth, and Harrison Wadsworth; and many nieces and nephews also survive.

Funeral services for Mr. Cornett will be held today at 2 p.m. in the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church with Pastor Lamar Rackley and Pastor Robert McCurry officiating. Mr. Cornett will lie in state at the church from 1 p.m. until the funeral hour. Interment services will follow in the church’s cemetery with Dr. Charles Allen and Lee Lawrence officiating. Adam May, Sam Cornett, Johnathan Cornett, Ryan Cornett, Zack Dunaway, and Hunter Hester will serve as pallbearers.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Good Samaritan Baptist Mission (Radio Ministry in Honduras) in Mr. Cornett’s memory.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home today from 9 a.m. until they leave for the church.

Please visit www.jeffeberhartfuneralhome.com to sign the online guestbook and to express your condolences to the Cornett family.

The Jeff Eberhart Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Mr. Gene Cornett.