Atlanta Journal Obituaries: How to Find, Place, and Understand Death Notices in Atlanta

For many Atlanta families, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) obituaries are the primary way to share a loved one’s passing with the wider community. Whether you’re trying to find a recent obituary, search older death notices, or publish one yourself, knowing how the Atlanta system works can save you time and stress during an already difficult moment.

This guide walks you through how obituaries work in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, where else Atlantans commonly look for death notices, and what to do step by step if you need to place one.

What “Atlanta Journal Obituaries” Usually Means

When people in and around Atlanta say “Atlanta Journal obituaries,” they’re almost always talking about obituaries and death notices published by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the major daily newspaper serving:

• The City of Atlanta
• Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, Gwinnett, Clayton, and nearby counties

The AJC publishes obituaries:

• In print (newspaper edition)
• Online, where you can search and share

In addition to the AJC, many Atlantans also rely on:

• Funeral home websites (for example, large local homes in Atlanta, Decatur, Sandy Springs, Marietta, etc.)
• Church bulletins and local community publications
• Online memorial platforms managed by funeral homes

Understanding how these pieces fit together helps you know where to look and how to make sure an obituary reaches the right people.

How to Find Atlanta Journal-Constitution Obituaries

If you’re searching for an obituary for someone who lived or passed away in Atlanta, there are a few main paths.

1. Recent Obituaries (Most Common Need)

For deaths that occurred recently (days to a few months), Atlantans typically:

1. Check the AJC obituary section online
   You can search by name, date, or keyword once you reach their obituary section.

2. Check the funeral home website Most metro Atlanta funeral homes maintain an online obituary page with:

   • Service dates and locations
   • Photos and memories
   • Guest books or tribute walls

3. Search by city + “obituary” + person’s name Typing “Atlanta obituary [full name]” or “Decatur GA obituary [full name]” into a search engine often pulls up:

   • AJC listings
   • Funeral home memorial pages
   • Church or community notices

2. Older Obituaries and Death Notices

For obituaries more than a few months or years old, you may need to use archival sources. Common options in Atlanta include:

• AJC archives
  The Atlanta Journal-Constitution maintains both digital and microfilm archives of older editions.

• Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System (Central Library)
  1 Margaret Mitchell Square NW
  Atlanta, GA 30303
  The central branch typically offers:

  • Newspaper archives
  • Microfilm readers
  • Staff who can help you navigate the holdings

• Georgia Archives (Morrow, just south of Atlanta)
  5800 Jonesboro Road
  Morrow, GA 30260
  The Georgia Archives often has:

  • Historical Atlanta newspapers
  • Indexes that may include death notices

If you’re doing genealogy research or trying to verify family history in Atlanta, these institutions are often the best starting point.

How AJC Obituaries Work in Atlanta

Obituary vs. Death Notice

In the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, both terms may be used:

• Death notice
  A brief listing that includes:

  • Name
  • Age
  • City or area
  • Basic service information
    This is usually more concise and less expensive.

• Full obituary
  A longer narrative that might include:

  • Life story and accomplishments
  • Family members
  • Hobbies, career, and community involvement
  • Funeral and memorial details
    This is often what families think of when they say “obituary.”

Who Usually Submits the Obituary?

In metro Atlanta, obituaries for the AJC are typically submitted by:

• Funeral homes (most common)
  Atlanta-area homes are very familiar with the AJC’s process and usually:

  • Draft the obituary with the family
  • Handle formatting, deadlines, and payment
  • Submit directly to the paper

• Families directly
  Some families prefer to write and submit the obituary themselves. The AJC generally allows this, but may require:

  • Verification of the death (often via a funeral home, hospital, or death certificate)
  • A billing method
  • Compliance with length and content guidelines

If you are planning to publish in the AJC, it is often simpler to go through the funeral home handling arrangements in Atlanta or the surrounding area.

Step-by-Step: How to Place an Obituary in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Here’s a general process many Atlanta families follow.

Step 1: Decide Who Will Handle Submission

Choose one of these approaches:

• Use the funeral home
  Most Atlanta funeral homes will:

  • Ask if you want a newspaper obituary
  • Provide cost estimates
  • Guide you on word count and deadlines

• Submit yourself
  If you are not using a local funeral home, or you want to control every detail, you can typically contact the AJC’s obituary/death notice department directly through their official channels.

Step 2: Gather Essential Information

Having these details ready makes the process smoother:

• Full legal name
• Age at death
• City or neighborhood in the Atlanta area (e.g., Midtown, Buckhead, East Point, Decatur)
• Date of death
• Date and place of birth (if you want it included)
• Names of key surviving family members and predeceased relatives
• Funeral or memorial service details:
  • Date and time
  • Location (church, funeral home, graveside, etc.)
  • City and address
• Information about:
  • Work or career in Atlanta (employer, business ownership, public service)
  • Church or community involvement (for example, membership at an Atlanta church or local organization)
• Whether you prefer donations to a cause instead of or in addition to flowers

Step 3: Draft the Obituary Text

You can draft the obituary yourself or with help from a funeral director. For Atlanta Journal obituaries, it helps to:

• Keep the style clear and respectful
• Use full names first, then shorter references
• Avoid slang and overly casual wording
• Double-check spellings of:
  • Names
  • Atlanta street names
  • Church and organization names

A typical Atlanta obituary might include:

1. Announcement of death
2. Brief biographical sketch (birthplace, education, career)
3. Time spent in or connection to Atlanta or a specific metro area
4. Family members
5. Service information (date, time, place)
6. Special notes (favorite charities, military service, organizations)

Step 4: Confirm Cost, Deadlines, and Publication Dates

Obituary pricing is often based on:

• Length (number of lines, words, or column inches)
• Whether you include a photo
• Number of days and whether it runs on weekend days

For timing:

• Newspapers like the AJC typically have daily deadlines for print.
• Online publication may appear:
  • The same day
  • The next publication cycle, depending on when everything is submitted and processed

Your funeral home or the AJC obituary team can give you current deadlines and price ranges.

Step 5: Proofread Carefully

Before final approval:

• Check all names and dates
• Confirm service times and locations (address, city, and room or chapel name)
• Verify spellings of Atlanta neighborhoods, churches, and cemeteries
  (for example, make sure “Candler Park,” “Peachtree Street,” or “Decatur” are spelled correctly)

Once it is in print, corrections can be difficult, so taking a few extra minutes here is especially helpful.

Where Atlantans Commonly See Obituaries Besides the AJC

While the Atlanta Journal-Constitution is widely used, many people also rely on other sources to learn about services.

1. Local Funeral Homes in Metro Atlanta

Most large and mid-sized funeral homes in:

• Atlanta
• Decatur
• Marietta
• Sandy Springs
• East Point
• College Park
• Tucker
• Stone Mountain
• And surrounding suburbs

maintain online obituary listings that are easy to search by name. These often include:

• Photos and life stories
• Condolence or guest book sections
• Service and visitation information
• Links to livestreams or recorded services when available

2. Churches and Faith Communities

Many Atlanta churches and religious organizations share:

• Funeral announcements
• Memorial schedules
• Printed programs

If the person was a longtime member of an Atlanta-area congregation, you may find detailed notices through:

• Church bulletins
• Email lists or text communications
• Physical postings at the church

3. Community and Neighborhood Channels

In some Atlanta neighborhoods, information about deaths and services is also shared via:

• Homeowner association newsletters
• Neighborhood email lists
• Community message boards or social apps

These may not replace a formal obituary but can supplement it and help word spread locally.

Using Public Resources in Atlanta for Death and Obituary Information

Sometimes you’re not only looking for an obituary—you might also need official death records or help confirming details. In that case, local government offices can help.

Fulton County Vital Records (for Atlanta Addresses in Fulton County)

If the death occurred in Atlanta within Fulton County, you may request a death certificate through Fulton County Vital Records:

• Many requests can be started online, by mail, or in person.
• Proof of identity and relationship is often required.
• Fees apply for certified copies.

Georgia Department of Public Health – Vital Records

For deaths that occurred anywhere in Georgia (including metro Atlanta), you can request records from the Georgia Department of Public Health’s Vital Records Office (state-level). This can be useful if:

• The death occurred outside the City of Atlanta but within the metro area.
• You are unsure which county handled the record.

These records are separate from obituaries but can confirm facts when writing or searching.

Practical Tips for Writing a Thoughtful Atlanta Obituary

If you’re writing the obituary yourself for publication in the AJC or elsewhere, these tips often help Atlanta families:

Keep the local connection clear.
Mention:

• Neighborhoods or suburbs (e.g., Grant Park, Kirkwood, Smyrna)
• Local employers (e.g., Atlanta-based companies)
• Schools or colleges in the area
• Churches or organizations (for example, long-time membership in an Atlanta congregation or civic group)

Be specific with service locations.
Include:

• Full name of the funeral home, church, or cemetery
• Street address or at least the city (e.g., “Atlanta, GA” or “Decatur, GA”)
• Any campus or chapel name if there are multiple locations

Decide how to handle memorials and donations.
Metro Atlanta families often suggest memorial donations to:

• Local charities
• Atlanta-based nonprofit organizations
• Schools or scholarship funds

If you choose to do this, include clear wording so readers know how to give.

Quick Reference: Key Choices for Atlanta Journal Obituaries

Below is a simple overview of main decisions you’ll likely face:

If You’re Visiting Atlanta and Need Obituary Information

If you’re in Atlanta temporarily—for work, travel, or to support family—and need to:

• Confirm a service time
• Locate a funeral home or church
• Find where an obituary is published

You can:

• Use the AJC obituary section to search by name and date
• Contact the funeral home listed in the obituary for service details
• Use online maps to verify:
  • Driving directions
  • MARTA routes and nearby transit to the service location

This is especially helpful if you’re unfamiliar with Atlanta’s neighborhoods, traffic, and travel times.

By understanding how Atlanta Journal obituaries are submitted, where they’re published, and how they interact with funeral homes and local institutions, you can more confidently find or place the notice you need. This structure is designed to support Atlanta residents, visitors, and families with roots in the city during a significant and sensitive time.