The body of a Lula soldier killed last week in Afghanistan will be brought home today.
A former U.S. Army Ranger from Hall County, Maj. Kevin M. Jenrette was one of three Georgia soldiers killed in action Thursday while serving in Afghanistan. Jenrette, 37, and two other soldiers — Staff Sgt. John C. Beale, 39, of Riverdale and Spc. Jeffrey W. Jordan, 21, of Rome — died from wounds sustained from an improvised explosive device and small arms fire near Kapisa, Afghanistan, said Lt. Col. Ken Baldowski, state public affairs officer for the Georgia National Guard.
The three men were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 108th Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition Squadron, 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team with the Georgia National Guard in Calhoun.
The men had been in Afghanistan for approximately three weeks at the time of the attack, Baldowski said.
Jenrette’s body is scheduled to arrive at Lee Gilmer Memorial Airport at 12:30 p.m. today. The family will have a private service at the airport before transporting Jenrette’s body to Memorial Park Funeral home, which is in charge of arrangements.
The motorcade will leave the airport and travel on Queens City Parkway to Jesse Jewell, continuing on Browns Bridge and take a left onto Memorial Park Drive to Memorial Park Funeral Home.
The family will receive friends from 4-6 p.m. and from 7-9 p.m. today and Friday at the funeral home.
Jenrette was a 1990 graduate of Lyman Ward Military Academy and a 1995 graduate of North Georgia College. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army upon graduating. He became an Army Ranger and served with the 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii. He was promoted to captain in 1999, and then was an instructor with the 5th Ranger Training Battalion at Camp Frank D. Merrill in Dahlonega.
In 2005, Jenrette transferred to the Georgia Army National Guard, where he served as a full-time officer with the Recruiting Sustainment Program. He was promoted to major in 2005.
Jenrette and his wife, Shannon Parker Jenrette, would have celebrated their 10-year anniversary on July 3. The couple have three children: Corey, 7; Brody, 5; and Megan 1, all of Lula.
In addition to his wife and children, Jenrette also is survived by his parents, retired Col. Albert W. "Bill" and Ursula Jenrette of Auburn, Ala.; a sister, Jennifer Welsh and husband George of Baton Rouge; and many members of his wife’s family living in Lula.
On Saturday, the motorcade carrying Jenrette’s body to the funeral at Timber Ridge Baptist Church will leave the funeral home at about 2:20 p.m. and travel from Browns Bridge Road to Old Cornelia Highway and end on Ga. 52, where the church is located. Funeral services are scheduled for 3 p.m. Saturday at Timber Ridge Baptist Church with interment to follow in the Church Cemetery. The Rev. Dean Bryant and the Rev. Anthony Cook will officiate.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Timber Ridge Baptist Church; Mr. Curtis Black, Clerk; 7690 Pea Ridge Road; Lula, GA 30554. Please indicate the gift is for the "Kevin Jenrette Memorial Fund."