COBB COUNTY, Ga. — As Cobb County said goodbye to one deputy and prepares to say goodbye to another on Thursday, Jody Traylor is helping fellow first responders through the heartbreak.
“I’m emotional just thinking about it,” said Traylor.
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The Marietta woman and a friend, with the help of several restaurants and community support, have spent the past several days organizing food donations for first responders across Cobb County after deputies Jonathan Koleski and Marshall Ervin, Jr. were shot and killed last Thursday.
“We went to the Marietta Police Department the next day, Friday,” said Traylor. “And we spent a lot of time there feeding these officers. And there were several that were on the scene that night and saw the scene and one visibly broke down in front of me. And just seeing that it touches you, it hurts you.”
Traylor plans on being at Ervin’s funeral at West Ridge Church in Paulding County on Thursday. Visitation will be held from noon until the service begins at 2 p.m. A procession will follow starting at 4 p.m.
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It comes just one day after a final goodbye to Koleski.
“He was and is and always will be my hero,” said Megan Barrios, Koleski’s sister.
Koleski’s sisters paid tribute to their brother in front of more than a thousand mourners at Northstar Church in Kennesaw.
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Many more gathered outside to watch the procession. It was a final salute to the deputy, veteran and loving husband.
“Every day that John left for work, he brought my daughter a gift. That says a lot to me about how much he loved Amy,” said David McDowell, Koleski’s father-in-law.
Cobb officials are expecting the same show of support for Ervin and his family on Thursday.
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