Plans Set to Welcome Home Remains of Korean War Veteran Cpl Terrell Fuller

After weeks of planning, the Toccoa-Stephens County residents will be welcoming home the remains of Korean War veteran Army Cpl. Terrell J. Fuller.

Fuller’s remains are expected to land this morning at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta.

Stephens County Randy Shirley says a full escort to the airport left Acree-Davis Funeral Home early this morning.

“We plan to leave from Acree-Davis funeral home with a full escort. The Gwinnett County Sheriff’s office will join us at the funeral home as well as the Georgia State Patrol who will lead the escort to Atlanta. The remains will be landing at approximately 7a. There will then be about a 10-minute ceremony at the hanger,” Shirley said.

Shirley said the family may decide to speak to metro Atlanta reporters as they leave the airport, which he said may cause a slight delay.

Then, the hearse carrying Fuller’s remains will be returned home to Toccoa with a full escort that will include law enforcement agencies from the metro area.

“We’ll be leaving the airport and the Fulton County Sheriff’s office and the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s office, as well as the Hall County and Habersham County Sheriff offices will have not only someone to escort us through the counties, but they will also cover the intersections and red lights as we turn from I-85 onto 985,” he explained. ”

In Stephens County, hundreds, if not thousands, of well-wishers are expected to line the processional route this morning as the hearse enters the Toccoa area..

“We will be turning onto the Toccoa Bypass at the Tom Arrendale interchange, going down to the Jeanette Jamieson intersection, turning left onto West Currahee St. We will be turning left onto Broad St. and turn right onto Doyle St. where the Toccoa Fire Department will have two ladder trucks that will have a large flag drape as we proceed through downtown Toccoa,” the Sheriff said.

The procession will continue down Doyle St to Pond St, then make a right on Pond St, crossing over the bridge to Acree-Davis funeral home.

Shirley adds that Doyle Street will be closed off to everyone and the procession will pass through downtown Toccoa.

A special area will be set up for Korean War veterans downtown and the entire school body of Toccoa Elementary will walk from the school and line Pond St. To view the processional.

Shirley advises those who plan to stand on the roadside to use extreme caution.

“So we caution all the people in your listening area that may not only live here but in adjoining counties to please remenber that there will be close a thousand people in the small area of downtown Toccoa,” he said.

The procession is expected to arrive in Toccoa around 9:30 a.m.

If you cannot be there in person, WNEG News will provide live coverage this morning as Fuller’s remains return to Toccoa.