JERRY MAC CORNELIUS, 77, of Fort Worth, TX passed
away peacefully in this home surrounded by loved ones
on Sept. 1, 2024.
Jerry was born to Howard Eugene & Dora Oleta Cornelius
in Lubbock, TX on July 24, 1947. He graduated from
Hamilton High School in 1965, enlisted in the U.S.
Navy in 1967 and served in communications on Guam
until 1969. Upon his return, he worked at Western
Electric in Mesquite, which later became AT&T, then
Lucent Technologies and finally Tyco Electronics.
While working full-time, he earned a bachelor’s
degree in business from Amber University.
During his career, he started in quality control
and then was promoted to materials management as
an analyst. He ended his career as a project
manager in production, where he finally retired
in the mid-2000s. After retirement, he and his
wife Joan started an in-home daycare called “Meme’s
and Grandad’s Little Blessings,” where he became
“Grandad” to lots of little ones. They ran this
daycare for many years together, providing low-
cost and sometimes no-cost childcare for families
in their community.
In his younger years, Jerry was an avid beach
volleyball and softball player. He had a love
of sports and was a diehard Cowboys fan, rarely
missing a game. He enjoyed the great outdoors
and would often go hunting, fishing and camping.
He was known to tear up the dance floor, especially
when a Willie song came on.
Jerry re-affirmed his faith in Christ as his savior
when he was close to 60 years old. He was an active
member of Chapel Creek Fellowship, where he served
in many ministries including VBS, men’s ministries
and trunk or treat. He and Joan also cleaned the
church afterhours, he cooked breakfast for the Sat.
morning men’s prayer group, and for service times
he set up and broke down chairs. He was a familiar
face to all those who attended, greeting people at
the coffee stand where he made sure there was always
a fresh pot for the congregation and himself. If the
doors were open and events were taking place, Jerry
was there helping and serving wherever he was needed.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Gene & Oleta
Cornelius; brother Bob Cornelius; grandson Brody Knapp
and granddaughter Brittany Battle; brothers-in-law
Dwight Landua and Rick Payne; sons-in-law Jimbo Dunlap,
Matthew Knapp and Damon Battle; grandparents Roy and
Thelma Cornelius and Lee and Oma Marshall; and aunt
Georgia Cornelius Musil.
Jerry is survived by his wife Joan Faux-Cornelius;
daughters Dayna Cornelius (Tiffany Lee), Denise Wilson
(Dave), Renee Morales (Greg), Jennifer Faux-O’Henley,
Lisa Farris (Phillip) and Nina Cornelius; son Michael
Faux (Ashlie); sisters Martha Landua and Kathy Keaton
(Charles); sister-in-law Shellie Cornelius; stepmother
Jo Ann Baker Cornelius; aunt Mary Cornelius Whitworth;
13 grandkids; three great-grandkids; and many nieces
and nephews.
Jerry will be remembered as a kind and gentle peacemaker
with a strong wit, known for loving a good prank and
filling everyone’s life with lots of love and laughs.