Geraldine C. Pike

July 5, 1932 - July 18, 2018

Margie Geraldine (Jerri) Coleman Pike, of Stone Mountain, GA, died following a brief illness on Wednesday, July 18, 2018 at Dekalb Medical Center in Decatur, GA. She was 86. Jerri was born on July 5, 1932 in Atlanta, GA, to Connie Brock Coleman and Emma Scroggins Coleman. In 1949 she graduated from Chamblee High School in Chamblee, GA, then attended Georgia State University in Atlanta. In 1953, she married William L. “Pete” Pike in Atlanta, GA., together she and Pete founded Pike Nurseries, a chain of Atlanta area garden centers, 1958. It became the family’s life-long business. The family always considered Jerri the pillar of the family and the company and she dedicated her life to raising four children while doing what she could to ensure the success of the business. Through their years together, Jerri and Pete donated funds to refurbish the chapels at Dekalb Medical Center at North Decatur, Decatur, GA and Dekalb Medical Center at Hillandale, Lithonia, GA. They were also generous contributors to Atlanta’s Ronald McDonald House and Greater Atlanta Christian School in Norcross, GA. Jerri was a devout Christian and a Charter Member of Eastside Baptist Church in Marietta, GA and a devoted long-standing member of Smoke Rise Baptist Church in Stone Mountain GA. A well-loved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt and sister in law, Jerri will be greatly missed. She will be remembered for her compassion, emphasis on family, generosity, resilience and dry sense of humor. Jerri is preceded in death by her parents, Connie Brock Coleman and Emma Scroggins Coleman; and sisters, Elouise Coleman and Mildred Coleman Todd; brother, Connie Brock (C.B.) Coleman, Jr.;. She is survived by her husband, Pete Pike; their four children, William A. (Tony) Pike, Gary Michael Pike, Sr. (Lynn), Randy L. Pike and Dana Pike-Van Vlake (Jeffrey); nine grandchildren; seven great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. The Celebration of Life Service will be held on Sunday, July 22, 2018 at 2:00 PM at Smoke Rise Baptist Church, Stone Mountain, GA., and will lie in state from 1:00 PM until 2:00 PM at Smoke Rise Baptist Church, followed by entombment in the Pike Family Garden Mausoleum in Arlington Memorial Park in Sandy Springs, Ga. The family will receive friends on Saturday, July 21, 2018 from 3:00 PM until 5:00 PM at Tom M. Wages Snellville Chapel, Snellville, GA. In Lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Smoke Rise Baptist Church, Stone Mountain, GA in memory of Margie Geraldine (Jerri) Coleman Pike. Condolences may be sent or viewed at www.wagesfuneralhome.com Tom M. Wages Funeral Service, LLC, “A Family Company”, Snellville Chapel 770-979-3200 has been entrusted with the arrangements.