Lt. Col. Ernest Anderson Nealy

Our Hometown Heroes

Ernest Anderson Nealy

Lt. Col. Graduated from Emory

A graduate of Emory University, Ernest Anderson Nealy, rose to the rank of Lt. Col. in the U.S. Army. Born on May 23, 1907, Nealy enlisted in the U.S. Army on September 29, 1939. He was 32 years old. Fighting overseas, Nealy was killed in action in Germany on February 23, 1945. His wife, Annie Ruth Elder Nealy, a well-known teacher in Griffin, was notified of her husband’s death.

Nealy is buried in Henri-Chapelle, Belgium. He is also remembered with a monument in the County Line United Methodist Church Cemetery.

Although Lt. Col. Nealy did not come home alive, a thankful community now honors the World War II, hero. An individual plaque will be installed in Historic Downtown Griffin honoring our Hometown Hero. The plaque is sponsored by Anne and Taylor Manley.