William Jerome "Jerry" Vereen

MOULTRIE, GA – William Jerome “Jerry” Vereen, 85, of Moultrie, Georgia, passed away July 11th at Colquitt Regional Medical Center. A man of extraordinary accomplishment and deep community devotion, Jerry’s name became synonymous with the textile and apparel industry in Georgia and around the world. He was born September 7, 1940, in Moultrie, to the late William Coachman Vereen and Mary Elizabeth Bunn Vereen.

Education and Military Service

Jerry attended Georgia Institute of Technology, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1963 and was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. He was also a member of Leadership Georgia, Class of ’72. Following graduation, he served his country with distinction in the U.S. Marine Corps in Vietnam from 1963 to 1967, attaining the rank of Captain. For his service, he was decorated with the Bronze Star with the combat “V” insignia and a Purple Heart.

Career

Jerry’s professional career spanned more than five decades and left an indelible mark on the American and international apparel industry. He joined Riverside Manufacturing Company in 1967 and rose rapidly through its ranks: Vice President and Director of Moultrie Cotton Mills in 1969, Vice President of Riverside Uniform Rentals in 1971, Executive Vice President of Riverside Industries in 1973, and President of Riverside Manufacturing Company in 1977—a role he held concurrently with serving as CEO of the company’s operations in Ireland.

He expanded the company’s reach across Europe through Riverside Ireland, Ltd. and the German and U.K. branches of the enterprise and Right Image Corporation. Throughout the 1980s, as the business reorganized into Riverside Industries and Riverside Manufacturing Company, Jerry served as CEO of both. From 1993 to 1994, he was appointed the Tyner Eminent Scholar Chair Holder Professor with the College of Human Sciences at Florida State University. He most recently served as CEO of Riverside Property Holding Corporation in Moultrie.

National and International Leadership

Jerry’s expertise was sought at the highest levels of government and global commerce. He served the U.S. Department of State as a textile and apparel tariffs adviser and sat on the trilateral commission for apparel labeling under the North American Free Trade Agreement. He was a member of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland for ten years, and served as Chairman and CEO of the International Apparel Federation. He also served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Georgia Power Company, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Georgia, Gerber Scientific Inc., Cerulean Corporation, Textile Clothing Technology Corporation (TC²), the Governor’s Development Council, the Georgia Department of Trade and Tourism, the Georgia Research Alliance, the Georgia Corporation of Industrial Development, and the southern Georgia division of Bank of America. He was Director of the North American Association of Uniform Manufacturers and Distributors, a life member of the Capital City Club of Atlanta, and Vice Chairman of the Board of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce.

Community and Civic Service

Jerry was as committed to his hometown of Moultrie as he was to any boardroom. He served on the Board of Directors of United Way of Colquitt County, Moultrie YMCA, American Cancer Society, Georgia Council of Economic Education, American Apparel Education Foundation, Georgia Tech School of Textile and Fiber Engineering, and Moultrie-Colquitt County Arts Center. He was a founding board member of the Boys and Girls Club of Moultrie/Colquitt County, a member of Kiwanis Club, and a longtime member of the Sunset Country Club. He also served on the Development Authority of Moultrie-Colquitt County.

An elder of First Presbyterian Church of Moultrie, Jerry was deeply rooted in his faith and his church community. He was named the 2020 Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year, a recognition that reflected the esteem in which this community held him. He also truly enjoyed time sharing laughs with his friends weekly at the 5:01 Board.

Recognition and Honors

In 2017, Marquis Who’s Who selected him as a Who’s Who Top Executive and a Lifetime Achiever. He was selected for inclusion in numerous volumes of Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in the South and Southwest, Who’s Who in the World, Who’s Who in Finance and Business, Who’s Who in Finance and Industry, and the 1987–1988 volume of Who’s Who of Emerging Leaders in America. He was notably featured in the 71st edition of Who’s Who in America. One of his favorite honors was to receive the prestigious Silver Medallion Award, Jeremiah Milbank Award and the National Service to Youth Award for his efforts in supporting the Boys and Girls Club.

Family

In 1963, Jerry married Evelyn King of Cusseta, Georgia, the love of his life and his steadfast partner for 53 years. Evelyn preceded him in death on September 10, 2016. He was also preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Harvey Bunn Vereen, and his sister, Barbara Bunn Vereen.

Jerry is survived by his daughter, Lisa Vereen Zeanah (David) of Moultrie, Georgia; his son, William C. “Will” Vereen (Anne) of Nashville, Tennessee; and four grandchildren, Charlie Zeanah and George Zeanah (Mary Martin) of Atlanta, Georgia, and Mary Kimball Vereen and Lilly Vereen of Nashville, Tennessee; nephews, Scott Vereen and Hunter Vereen (Karolina); niece, Heather Vereen.

Special recognition: His long-time executive assistant, Sharon Salter, who kept his business matters up to date has been like one of the family for over 27 years. Lastly, he spent his last 3 years with wonderful 24-hour caregivers from Visiting Angels of South Georgia who he and family loved and appreciated for all their caring and friendship.

Services

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at The First Presbyterian Church of Moultrie with Reverend Dr. Hugh B. Ward officiating. A private family interment will follow at Westview Cemetery.

The family will receive friends on Friday, July 17, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. in the chapel of Baker Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes memorial contributions to First Presbyterian Church Moultrie, The Boys and Girls Club, or Colquitt County Arts Center which meant so much to Jerry throughout his life.