By Staff
May 21, 2009
Funeral for Joe McAbee, 67, Atlanta, Ga. was Tuesday, May 26, at 12 noon at Bethel Baptist Church with Peck Funeral Home directing. Services were held at Druid Hills Presbyterian Church in Georgia on Sunday, May 24, at 2 p.m.
Mr. McAbee died Thursday, May 21, 2009, after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was born March 8, 1942, to Lloyd and Ozelle McAbee and grew up in Hartselle. Upon graduation from public schools he entered the United States Air Force advancing to the rank of Airman First Class. Upon his discharge from the Air Force, he was employed by St. Paul Fire &Marine Insurance Company. He worked in Birmingham and Washington, D.C. before relocating to Atlanta as a claims supervisor. Although he handled a variety of claims, he was widely regarded as an expert in medical malpractice claims. From Atlanta, he was transferred to Columbia, S. C., where he served as manager for St. Paul. Within a short time after MAG Mutual Insurance Company was formed in Georgia, he was asked to return to serve as claims manager. He rose to vice-president of claims and litigation and remained in that position until his retirement in 1999. During Joe’s tenure as vice-president, MAG Mutual Insurance Co. experienced rapid growth, expanding into several states. Their ability to grow was due in no small part to its excellent claims experience and the ability to evaluate and appropriately resolve medical malpractice claims. Following his retirement, he and a former business associate formed Liability Solutions where he served as consultant on medical malpractice cases until his death. He enjoyed a full, productive life filled with family, friends and professional colleagues, all of whom loved him as he loved each of them. He loved life because he loved the people who were a part of his life. His devotion to his family, his interest in everyone he met, and his willingness to accept them, whatever their circumstance, will never be forgotten. He was preceded in death by a brother, Tommy McAbee.
He is survived by his wife, Jane; his parents; a son, Keith; two daughters, Allison and Heather; a son-in-law, Cameron; a grandson, Josh; a granddaughter, Maddie; and two adopted granddaughters, Sophie and Gabriella; a sister, Pat and husband Russell; two brothers, Bill and wife Wanda and Rick and wife Charlotte; a sister-in-law, Sarah; and nieces, nephews and cousins.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice Atlanta, 1244 Park Vista Drive, Atlanta, GA 30309 (www.VNHS.org) or to Pancreatic Cancer Research, 2141 Rosecrans Ave. Ste 7000, El Segundo, Calif. 90245 (www.pancan.org).