Attorney and Judge, A. J. Welch, Jr., age 73, of McDonough, Ga, passed away on March 23, 2018. Buddy was born in Atlanta, Georgia to the late Cap and Cola Pope Welch.
He was passionate about his family, community, work and God. He is a graduate of The Georgia Military Academy (1963), The University of Georgia (1966) and the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University (1969). After receiving his Juris Doctorate degree he returned to McDonough to join Earnest Smith, where he was instrumental in growing the largest firm on the south side of Atlanta. Buddy served as counsel to his local community while also being sworn in as the youngest juvenile judge in the State of Georgia. He served as the Flint Judicial Circuit Judge for over 38 years. His dedication and passion to serving his community, family and church reached no describable boundaries.
Buddy was also preceded in death by his son, Hunter.
He is survived by his lovely wife, Kit; his sister, Gail and Fred Noti, his brother Pope and Marilyn Welch; his son, Andy and Cara Welch; his daughter, Kirsten and Justin Scott; and grandchildren, Dane, Caleb, Nina, Sadie and Hannah; as well as many nephews and nieces, in-laws and out-laws, as he liked to say, and cousins and kin all the world over.
Funeral services were held on March 28, 2018 at McDonough Presbyterian Church. Burial followed in Eastlawn Memorial Park.
∼McDONOUGH Prominent McDonough-based attorney A.J. "Buddy" Welch Jr. was killed early Friday in an accident at a railroad crossing in the Cork community of Butts County where his family maintains a farm along the Ocmulgee River.
Butts County Sheriff Gary Long confirmed that Welch, 73, was on an ATV at a railroad crossing at Mt. Pleasant Church Road when he was struck by a train at 7:33 a.m. Friday, Long said.
"He was obviously hunting, based on what he was wearing and his gun and all that" Long said.
Long said there are no gate arms at the crossing where the incident occurred.
The tracks at the crossing are operated by Norfolk Southern. The train was traveling south and had two locomotives and 18 railcars, according to a spokeswoman with the Norfolk Southern Corporation. The railway has provided information to the Georgia State Patrol to conduct an investigation.
Welch is senior manager of the Smith Welch Webb & White law firm based in McDonough and has for decades represented a number of public sector clients, including the Henry County Board of Education, city of Locust Grove, Henry County Water Authority, and the Butts County Board of Education. He also represented the city of Hampton for nearly two decades until this year, and the city of Stockbridge.
He had served as the chief judge for the Juvenile Court of Henry County since 1975. The Henry County Judicial Center was dedicated in his honor in 2009.
"We at Smith, Welch have suffered a devastating loss. Buddy Welch was more than our senior partner or our leader. He was a father, a friend, a mentor, and words cannot possibly express how much he will be missed" the law firm said in a statement.
"The outpouring from the community has been overwhelming and has only confirmed what we here at the firm already knew Buddy, he touched countless lives in a positive way." the firm continued. "Please know that your thoughts, prayers, and support are more meaningful to us than you will ever know."
The firm's partners are asking for respect for the Welch family during this difficult time.
"Beyond that, we would ask for patience and understanding as we try to respond to everyone that has been kind enough to reach out and support all those that depend on us on a daily basis."
Welch is the father of state Rep. Andy Welch of McDonough.
Welch represented the Henry County school board for 42 years.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a hotline for individuals in crisis or for those looking to help someone else. To speak with a certified listener, call 1-800-273-8255.
He was passionate about his family, community, work and God. He is a graduate of The Georgia Military Academy (1963), The University of Georgia (1966) and the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University (1969). After receiving his Juris Doctorate degree he returned to McDonough to join Earnest Smith, where he was instrumental in growing the largest firm on the south side of Atlanta. Buddy served as counsel to his local community while also being sworn in as the youngest juvenile judge in the State of Georgia. He served as the Flint Judicial Circuit Judge for over 38 years. His dedication and passion to serving his community, family and church reached no describable boundaries.
Buddy was also preceded in death by his son, Hunter.
He is survived by his lovely wife, Kit; his sister, Gail and Fred Noti, his brother Pope and Marilyn Welch; his son, Andy and Cara Welch; his daughter, Kirsten and Justin Scott; and grandchildren, Dane, Caleb, Nina, Sadie and Hannah; as well as many nephews and nieces, in-laws and out-laws, as he liked to say, and cousins and kin all the world over.
Funeral services were held on March 28, 2018 at McDonough Presbyterian Church. Burial followed in Eastlawn Memorial Park.
∼McDONOUGH Prominent McDonough-based attorney A.J. "Buddy" Welch Jr. was killed early Friday in an accident at a railroad crossing in the Cork community of Butts County where his family maintains a farm along the Ocmulgee River.
Butts County Sheriff Gary Long confirmed that Welch, 73, was on an ATV at a railroad crossing at Mt. Pleasant Church Road when he was struck by a train at 7:33 a.m. Friday, Long said.
"He was obviously hunting, based on what he was wearing and his gun and all that" Long said.
Long said there are no gate arms at the crossing where the incident occurred.
The tracks at the crossing are operated by Norfolk Southern. The train was traveling south and had two locomotives and 18 railcars, according to a spokeswoman with the Norfolk Southern Corporation. The railway has provided information to the Georgia State Patrol to conduct an investigation.
Welch is senior manager of the Smith Welch Webb & White law firm based in McDonough and has for decades represented a number of public sector clients, including the Henry County Board of Education, city of Locust Grove, Henry County Water Authority, and the Butts County Board of Education. He also represented the city of Hampton for nearly two decades until this year, and the city of Stockbridge.
He had served as the chief judge for the Juvenile Court of Henry County since 1975. The Henry County Judicial Center was dedicated in his honor in 2009.
"We at Smith, Welch have suffered a devastating loss. Buddy Welch was more than our senior partner or our leader. He was a father, a friend, a mentor, and words cannot possibly express how much he will be missed" the law firm said in a statement.
"The outpouring from the community has been overwhelming and has only confirmed what we here at the firm already knew Buddy, he touched countless lives in a positive way." the firm continued. "Please know that your thoughts, prayers, and support are more meaningful to us than you will ever know."
The firm's partners are asking for respect for the Welch family during this difficult time.
"Beyond that, we would ask for patience and understanding as we try to respond to everyone that has been kind enough to reach out and support all those that depend on us on a daily basis."
Welch is the father of state Rep. Andy Welch of McDonough.
Welch represented the Henry County school board for 42 years.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a hotline for individuals in crisis or for those looking to help someone else. To speak with a certified listener, call 1-800-273-8255.
Attorney and Judge, A. J. Welch, Jr., age 73, of McDonough, Ga, passed away on March 23, 2018. Buddy was born in Atlanta, Georgia to the late Cap and Cola Pope Welch.
He was passionate about his family, community, work and God. He is a graduate of The Georgia Military Academy (1963), The University of Georgia (1966) and the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University (1969). After receiving his Juris Doctorate degree he returned to McDonough to join Earnest Smith, where he was instrumental in growing the largest firm on the south side of Atlanta. Buddy served as counsel to his local community while also being sworn in as the youngest juvenile judge in the State of Georgia. He served as the Flint Judicial Circuit Judge for over 38 years. His dedication and passion to serving his community, family and church reached no describable boundaries.
Buddy was also preceded in death by his son, Hunter.
He is survived by his lovely wife, Kit; his sister, Gail and Fred Noti, his brother Pope and Marilyn Welch; his son, Andy and Cara Welch; his daughter, Kirsten and Justin Scott; and grandchildren, Dane, Caleb, Nina, Sadie and Hannah; as well as many nephews and nieces, in-laws and out-laws, as he liked to say, and cousins and kin all the world over.
Funeral services were held on March 28, 2018 at McDonough Presbyterian Church. Burial followed in Eastlawn Memorial Park.
∼McDONOUGH Prominent McDonough-based attorney A.J. "Buddy" Welch Jr. was killed early Friday in an accident at a railroad crossing in the Cork community of Butts County where his family maintains a farm along the Ocmulgee River.
Butts County Sheriff Gary Long confirmed that Welch, 73, was on an ATV at a railroad crossing at Mt. Pleasant Church Road when he was struck by a train at 7:33 a.m. Friday, Long said.
"He was obviously hunting, based on what he was wearing and his gun and all that" Long said.
Long said there are no gate arms at the crossing where the incident occurred.
The tracks at the crossing are operated by Norfolk Southern. The train was traveling south and had two locomotives and 18 railcars, according to a spokeswoman with the Norfolk Southern Corporation. The railway has provided information to the Georgia State Patrol to conduct an investigation.
Welch is senior manager of the Smith Welch Webb & White law firm based in McDonough and has for decades represented a number of public sector clients, including the Henry County Board of Education, city of Locust Grove, Henry County Water Authority, and the Butts County Board of Education. He also represented the city of Hampton for nearly two decades until this year, and the city of Stockbridge.
He had served as the chief judge for the Juvenile Court of Henry County since 1975. The Henry County Judicial Center was dedicated in his honor in 2009.
"We at Smith, Welch have suffered a devastating loss. Buddy Welch was more than our senior partner or our leader. He was a father, a friend, a mentor, and words cannot possibly express how much he will be missed" the law firm said in a statement.
"The outpouring from the community has been overwhelming and has only confirmed what we here at the firm already knew Buddy, he touched countless lives in a positive way." the firm continued. "Please know that your thoughts, prayers, and support are more meaningful to us than you will ever know."
The firm's partners are asking for respect for the Welch family during this difficult time.
"Beyond that, we would ask for patience and understanding as we try to respond to everyone that has been kind enough to reach out and support all those that depend on us on a daily basis."
Welch is the father of state Rep. Andy Welch of McDonough.
Welch represented the Henry County school board for 42 years.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a hotline for individuals in crisis or for those looking to help someone else. To speak with a certified listener, call 1-800-273-8255.
He was passionate about his family, community, work and God. He is a graduate of The Georgia Military Academy (1963), The University of Georgia (1966) and the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University (1969). After receiving his Juris Doctorate degree he returned to McDonough to join Earnest Smith, where he was instrumental in growing the largest firm on the south side of Atlanta. Buddy served as counsel to his local community while also being sworn in as the youngest juvenile judge in the State of Georgia. He served as the Flint Judicial Circuit Judge for over 38 years. His dedication and passion to serving his community, family and church reached no describable boundaries.
Buddy was also preceded in death by his son, Hunter.
He is survived by his lovely wife, Kit; his sister, Gail and Fred Noti, his brother Pope and Marilyn Welch; his son, Andy and Cara Welch; his daughter, Kirsten and Justin Scott; and grandchildren, Dane, Caleb, Nina, Sadie and Hannah; as well as many nephews and nieces, in-laws and out-laws, as he liked to say, and cousins and kin all the world over.
Funeral services were held on March 28, 2018 at McDonough Presbyterian Church. Burial followed in Eastlawn Memorial Park.
∼McDONOUGH Prominent McDonough-based attorney A.J. "Buddy" Welch Jr. was killed early Friday in an accident at a railroad crossing in the Cork community of Butts County where his family maintains a farm along the Ocmulgee River.
Butts County Sheriff Gary Long confirmed that Welch, 73, was on an ATV at a railroad crossing at Mt. Pleasant Church Road when he was struck by a train at 7:33 a.m. Friday, Long said.
"He was obviously hunting, based on what he was wearing and his gun and all that" Long said.
Long said there are no gate arms at the crossing where the incident occurred.
The tracks at the crossing are operated by Norfolk Southern. The train was traveling south and had two locomotives and 18 railcars, according to a spokeswoman with the Norfolk Southern Corporation. The railway has provided information to the Georgia State Patrol to conduct an investigation.
Welch is senior manager of the Smith Welch Webb & White law firm based in McDonough and has for decades represented a number of public sector clients, including the Henry County Board of Education, city of Locust Grove, Henry County Water Authority, and the Butts County Board of Education. He also represented the city of Hampton for nearly two decades until this year, and the city of Stockbridge.
He had served as the chief judge for the Juvenile Court of Henry County since 1975. The Henry County Judicial Center was dedicated in his honor in 2009.
"We at Smith, Welch have suffered a devastating loss. Buddy Welch was more than our senior partner or our leader. He was a father, a friend, a mentor, and words cannot possibly express how much he will be missed" the law firm said in a statement.
"The outpouring from the community has been overwhelming and has only confirmed what we here at the firm already knew Buddy, he touched countless lives in a positive way." the firm continued. "Please know that your thoughts, prayers, and support are more meaningful to us than you will ever know."
The firm's partners are asking for respect for the Welch family during this difficult time.
"Beyond that, we would ask for patience and understanding as we try to respond to everyone that has been kind enough to reach out and support all those that depend on us on a daily basis."
Welch is the father of state Rep. Andy Welch of McDonough.
Welch represented the Henry County school board for 42 years.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a hotline for individuals in crisis or for those looking to help someone else. To speak with a certified listener, call 1-800-273-8255.
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