ATLANTA – State Representative Viola Davis (D-Stone Mountain) today announced her plans to honor the life and memory of the late Jonathan Grant, an award-winning author and local political activist, through a House privileged resolution.
“Jonathan Grant lived a life that commanded respect, honor, integrity and selflessness,” said Rep. Davis. “His passing has many people missing his countless jokes and ability to make those around him laugh. I give my condolences and pray for his wife, Judy, and his daughters. He will live forever in our memory.”
Additionally, a celebration of Grant’s life will take place on Saturday, October 23, 2021, at 4 p.m. at A.S. Turner & Sons in Decatur (2773 N. Decatur Rd). The visitation period will occur ahead of the service at 3 p.m. Masks will be required during the services. The services will be live streamed for those who have not been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and/or those who cannot travel to attend. For more information about the services and Grant’s obituary, please click here.
Grant was the author and editor of “The Way It Was in the South: The Black Experience in Georgia,” which was once named the state’s nonfiction “Book of the Year” and “Editor’s Choice” at American Heritage Magazine. His first novel, “Chain Gang Elementary,” is the tragicomic story of a suburban school that turns into a battleground between a reform-minded PTA co-president and an authoritarian principal. His second novel, “Brambleman,” won the IBPA’s Benjamin Franklin Award for popular fiction in 2013. It focuses on the mob-driven expulsion of 1,000 Black landowners from Forsyth County in 1912. Jonathan Grant also created and operated the political blog, “Brambleman,” and was nicknamed “Will Rogers Democrat.”
A former resident of Peach County, Grant grew up on a Midwestern farm and graduated from the University of Georgia. After working as a journalist for several years, including a stint as the state news editor at The Macon Telegraph, he became the Georgia Public Service Commission’s first public information officer.
Grant resided in suburban Atlanta with his wife of 40 years, Judy Grant, and their two daughters. Actively involved in community affairs, he has served as PTA president at a five-star Georgia School of Excellence, an elected member of his local school council, as well as a soccer coach for 12 seasons.
Grant recently died after sustaining injuries during an accidental fall.
*Editor’s Note: A photo of Jonathan Grant is attached.
Representative Viola Davis represents the citizens of District 87, which includes portions of DeKalb County. She was elected to the House of Representatives in 2018 and currently serves on the Natural Resources & Environment, Insurance, Interstate Cooperation and Science and Technology committees.
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