John Gerhard Lord was an incredible husband, father, grandfather, and friend. John was born on August 7th, 1959, in Duluth, Georgia, at Joan Clancy Memorial Hospital. From a young age he showed his passion for sports, both watching and participating in any way. Throughout his life he played football, basketball, baseball, softball, and golf. He became a dedicated Georgia Tech fan due to their support of the inner-city youth sports programs. He made sure to bike to any Tech game he could attend, making sure to stop by The Varsity beforehand. He excelled in both sports and academics with a love for history and mathematics. His mother, Gertrud “Oma” Lord , made sure to be at all of his sporting events, and this imprinted in him the drive to support his children in all of their endeavors. 

On June 15th, 1985, he married his wife, Wanda Nanette Phillips-Lord. While married, he provided dedication and love through countless acts and services, and Nanette mirrored that love back to him. In 1987 he had his first son and found his true calling being a father. With all the love both he and Nanette had, they grew the family 3 more times in 1990, 1993, and 1996. John always supported his children's hobbies, including sports, band, and JROTC, either by coaching, being a support staff or being an avid fan in the crowd for all his kids. He always pushed his kids to the best of their abilities and ensured he made it to every event he was able to. As a father, coach, or mentor, he always instilled discipline, honesty, commitment, and, most of all, love for the sport. One of his favorite pastimes was doting on his children to anybody that would listen. If you knew John, you knew his kids' life stories and achievements.

His life found a new calling in 2013; he became a grandfather for the first time. He was blessed with three more grandchildren in 2016, 2018, and 2020. He continued to instill his core values and support through his dedication and vigor for life. The impact he has made on the young minds and spirits of his grandchildren will continue to grow and flourish. He would look forward to every new sporting endeavor and challenge that his grandkids faced and did everything he could to be there for them.

John dedicated 43 years to his career at Georgia Power, where he retired in 2024 as a senior cable splicer, always being the go-to man for knowledge, experience, and out-of-the-box thinking. While at Georgia Power, he spent countless hours serving his community and ensuring that the power was always there and the lights were on. He dedicated thousands of hours responding to emergency calls and often had to travel hundreds of miles to help those in need. He responded to Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Sandy disasters, lending his expertise and knowledge to bring power back to millions in times of need, and was crucial to the efforts of bringing life-saving services to people he would never meet. 

John Gerhard Lord was known by many names, John, JL, Johnny, J-Lo, Dad, Grandpa and Cappy. His presence will be sorely missed but never forgotten. He is still watching his children thrive, his grandchildren grow, and sending love and protection to his wife, Nanette. 

John is survived by his wife, Nanette; his children, Kyle, Lauren, Logan, and Gabby; and his grandchildren, Lincoln, Lilly, Jackson, and Elsie; brothers, Charles Jr., and Billy. 

A Memorial Service will take place Tuesday, April 22, 2025 at Fox & Weeks Funeral Director's - Hodgson Chapel starting at 2:00 PM.