Judge William Howard Ison

Judge William Howard "Bill" Ison, age 87, of Jonesboro passed away on April 11, 2022 at Brightmoor Hospice in Griffin, GA. Mr. Ison was born in Brooks, GA on January 24, 1935 to the late Newton and Joyce Ison. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Myrtle McCullough Ison and his siblings Newton (Becky) Ison, Jr. of Brooks, GA; Reverend Bonny (Dianne) Ison of Crawfordville, FL; Linda (Larry) Shepherd of DeFuniak Springs, FL; Marion (Janice) Ison of Griffin, GA; Sherry (Tom) Gary of Marietta, GA; and Mike (Sheila) Ison of DeFuniak Springs, FL; and several nieces and nephews. Bill was preceded in death by his parents and siblings Brenda (Gawaine) Neal and Ruby (Prentice) Parker. Bill was a veteran of the U. S. Navy and was honorably discharged in 1959. He then worked at Delta Airlines as an aircraft mechanic. After graduating from John Marshall Law School in 1968, he began his private law practice in Jonesboro. He was appointed Asst. District Attorney for Clayton County in 1972. In 1977, Governor George Busbee appointed Ison to a newly created Superior Court Judge position for Clayotn County Judicial Circuit. Ison became the Chief Judge of the Superior Court of the Clayton County Circuit in 1993. When he retired from this position in 2003, he was appointed Senior Judge of the Superior Courts by Governor Roy Barnes, and he continued to serve in various court cases in metro Atlanta. He was admitted to practice in all Georgia courts, The US District Courts for the N. District of Georgia, the US 5th Circuit Court of Appeals and the US Supreme Court. Judge Ison was involved in several civic organizations. He was past President of the GA. District Attorneys Association, past President of the Clayton County Bar Association, member of the GA Bar Association and past Chairman of the Criminal Law Section. He was an active member of the Kiwanis Club of Forest Park, having served as past President and past Lt. Governor of the 16th Division of the Georgia District of Kiwanis International. He served as the past Chairman of the Tara District of Boy Scouts where he received these awards: National Quality District Award, Tara District Boy Scout Award of Merit, Leadership Member Award of BSA, and the Atlanta Area Council of Boy Scouts Silver Beaver Award. He served the Tara District of Boy Scouts as the Chairman of the Eagle Scout Board for 22 years. In 2002, the Clayton County Board of Commissioners presented Ison with an award for "Distinguished Service and Dedication to the citizens of Clayton County" for serving as a District Attorney, Judge of Superior Court and Chief Judge of Superior Court. He also received the Clayton County Bar Association "2000" and "2011" Community Service Award. In 2000, Ison received the Chief Justice Robert Benham Award for Community Service. Other involvements in his community include being a Master Mason in the Forest Park Lodge #399, a Scottish Rite member, and a member of Yaarab Shriners of Atlanta, GA. Ison and his wife attend First Baptist Church of Jonesboro. The family will receive friends 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 13, 2022. Funeral Services will be held in the Chapel of First Baptist Church Jonesboro on Thursday, April 14, 2022 at 2 p.m. with Rev. Allen Davis and Mr. Kirby Glaze officiating. Interment will follow at Sherwood Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to First Baptist Church Jonesboro, Attn: Missions Funds or Riley Clinic, P. O. Box 773, Jonesboro, GA 30237

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Judge William Howard Ison

January 24, 1935 - April 11, 2022