Donald Jerome Ginn, Jr.

Donald Jerome Ginn Jr passed away in Atlanta, Georgia on March 22, 2020 after a hard fought battle with pancreatic cancer.

Donald is the son of Donald and Audrey Ginn who predeceased him.  He was born on June 24, 1956 in Middletown, Ohio.  His three older sisters, Donna, Jeanissa, and Althea, fell in love with him as soon as they saw him and decided he would be their gogi-mogi.  From that day forward he was affectionately known as Gogi.  He grew up in a large and loving family.  In the following years the family grew to include a brother, Guy, and a baby sister, Judy.  Later, his nephew, Jerome, joined the family and was loved as a brother.

During his illness he rededicated his life to Christ and enjoyed the comfort and love it gave him.  He graduated from Middletown High School in 1975.  Shortly afterwards, he married and became the proud father of Shaquita, Therren, Saqueira, and Thamarr.  Later he would enjoy the pleasure of his seven grandchildren, J’dyn, Keniyah, Sasha, Taya, Alanna, Sydni, and Jaime.

Although he left us far too soon, Gogi lived a full and diverse life. Early in life, he demonstrated a strong work ethic.  At age 12, he and his brother maintained a paper route. As a teenager, he worked in the local supermarket. As an adult, he received an associate degree from Cincinnati State Technical College and became a certified master welder.  He had a 20 year career at ARMCO Steel and later worked for Mound Steel.

Gogi loved being around family and friends.  He was the historical guru of the family. Whenever events were not clear, his siblings would always say, “let’s ask Gogi, he’ll remember”. Indeed, he would clear it up.  Around 2001, Gogi became disabled and moved to Atlanta –closer to his siblings who had migrated to the South.  Here he began a new stage in his life.  He traveled and vacationed with family all over the country and often showed off his “culinary” skills in the kitchen and on the grill.  He met and developed relationships and they became very close friendships with whom he enjoyed playing spades, dominos, and backgammon.  No one was a stranger to Gogi, and once he knew you, he could easily recall a humorous anecdote about you.

We will miss you Gogi, but you have left us with so many memories to cherish.

Gogi leaves to cherish his memory, his children Shaquita Magera (Joe), Therren Ginn,  Saqueira Ginn, and Thamarr Ginn; his grandchildren; his siblings Donna Ginn, Jeanissa Ginn, Althea Delisser(Woodrow), Guy Ginn (Carla), Judith McGuire(Bruce Grey).  He is also survived by his Aunts Jean Anderson, Ruth Flowers, and Judye Thomas and a host of cousins, nieces and nephews,  and friends.

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