Prominent realtor dies after being hit by a tree during severe storms in Atlanta

ATLANTA — A prominent real estate agent died after a tree toppled onto him in a storm as he walked through his Buckhead neighborhood Sunday evening.

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APD said at 6:12 p.m. Sunday, they responded to a person hit by a falling tree in the area of Delmont Drive NE.

They got to the scene and found a man who had been hit by a falling tree.

The man identified as George Heery Jr. was walking his two dogs along Delmont Drive in the Garden Hills neighborhood just after 6 p.m. when a large oak crashed to the ground.

Randy Merrill said his neighbors, including a doctor, rushed to help and perform CPR on him.

“They were pumping him here for 20 or 30 minutes before the ambulance came,” he told Channel 2′s Bryan Mims. “It was horrendous, horrible. His brother was here, his wife.”

Heery, 55, went to Grady Memorial Hospital in critical condition, where he died.

“I live two doors down,” Merrill said. " He was a friend, he was an agent for us. He was Mister Garden Hills. He was just a kind, kind sweet man.”

Heery was a well-known realtor in metro Atlanta, working in the office of Sotheby’s International Realty with his brother and business partner, Neal.

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They were founding partners of Heery Brothers, specializing in upscale residential properties. He was also the founding partner of Atlanta Fine Homes for Sotheby International.

The Atlanta City Council released a statement Monday about Heery’s death: “We are deeply saddened to hear about the untimely and tragic loss of George Heery, Jr. He made remarkable contributions to our community and left an indelible mark on the real estate industry through his unwavering dedication to his clients. Our thoughts are with his family as they navigate through this profound loss.”

Heery’s father, George Heery Sr., was a renowned architect in Atlanta, where he helped design the Georgia Dome, Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, and the 999 Peachtree Building. He died in 2021 at the age of 93.

Heery’s family declined to speak with the media and requested privacy. But his son, Liam, posted this message on Facebook: “An unspeakable tragedy has occurred last night. My father was and forever will be an incredible man. My family is incredibly grateful for all the support we have received. I love you dad. The world will not be the same without you.”

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He leaves behind a wife and two sons. 

Many neighbors also declined to speak with the media, saying they were traumatized by the tragedy. Merrill said Heery will always be remembered as “a noble and kind fellow.”

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