Town readies for return of veteran’s remains

ATLANTA — Cpl. Terrell J. Fuller went missing in Korea in 1951. By early 1954, the U.S. Army presumed him dead.

Today, his remains come home and on Saturday, what would have been his 88th birthday, he’ll be buried in his native Toccoa, Georgia.

“It’s closure to the family,” said his great-niece, Amy Hix. “It’s just a wonderful homecoming to have him come home and be buried on American soil.”

Fuller’s remains are scheduled to arrive at HartsfieldJackson Atlanta International Airport at 7:15 a.m. today and there will be a private honor-guard ceremony in a hangar. After that, the procession will travel north via Interstates 85 and 985, then U.S. 123 into town, taking Broad, Doyle and Pond streets on the way to Acree-Davis Funeral Home.

Hix’s son, Will Grafton, currently serving in the U.S. Army and stationed at Fort Stewart, will escort his greatgreat-uncle’s remains.

“Pretty much the entire town of Toccoa will line the streets and welcome him home,” Hix said.

The procession is expected to arrive in the North Georgia town between 9 and 9:30 a.m. today. Area Scout troops, veterans groups and other organizations are expected to assemble in downtown Toccoa and along some of the 985 overpasses along the procession route.

The public visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home, and the Saturday burial service at Stephens Memorial Gardens will be private.

The Rev. Jerrell Beatty will officiate Saturday.