Freeman N. Jelks Jr. ’51

Freeman was born Oct. 12, 1929, in Savannah, Ga.  

He came to us from The Hill School. At Princeton, he was an economics major, personnel director of The Daily Princetonian, undergraduate columnist for PAW, and a member of Key and Seal. He roomed with Howard Cyr and Harry LaViers.  

After graduating, Freeman served in the Army for two years in Okinawa and Japan. In 1955 he joined the staff of Johnson,  

Lane, Space & Co., Savannah investment bankers, where his father was a partner. He eventually became a senior vice president, shareholder, and partner, retiring in 1994. Early on, he was active in the Savannah Symphony Society and the Historic Savannah Foundation.  

Over the years he was a major supporter of the Savannah Country Day School, serving at one time as chairman of the board of trustees. He was a member of the Society of Colonial Wars, the St. Andrew’s Society of Georgia, and the Oglethorpe Club of Savannah.  

Freeman and Laura Connerat were married in 1961 and divorced in 1973. He died of coronary disease Nov. 28, 2009, and is survived by his son, Freeman N. III; daughter Laura Crawford; sister Retta Vance; and five grandchildren and step-grandchildren.