Mr. Julian Diaz, Jr., age 95, of Sandersville, passed away on Monday, June 28, 2021 at the Washington County Extended Care Facility. A private funeral service will be held at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Covington, Georgia at a later date.
Mr. Diaz was born and reared in Ybor City, Tampa, Florida, where he graduated from the Jefferson High School. He was the son of the late Julian Diaz Sr. and the late Elisa Garcia Diaz. Following high school, Julian proudly enlisted in the United States Army and served in the Army Air Corp during World War II. He then attended the University of Florida and obtained an Associate’s Degree before transferring to John Marshall Law School. Following graduation, Julian remained in the Atlanta area and began a long career as a Real Estate Analyst. He formed International Appraisal and Research, which served clients such as the Georgia Department of Transportation, the Hartsfield International Airport, Omni Hotels and Resorts, and President Jimmy Carter. He was a member of the Appraisal Institute and previously served as their International Vice President. Julian was an active member of St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Stone Mountain, Georgia, where he was a lay reader and Youth Sunday School teacher. In 2003, Julian and his late wife, Leonila Gonzalez Diaz, relocated to Sandersville to be near family and continue playing his role in his family-owned company. He was a longtime Rotarian who completed his service in the Sandersville Rotary Club having served as Club President and being named a Paul Harris Fellow. While living in Sandersville, Julian was an active member of Grace Episcopal Church.
Survivors include his children, Julian Diaz, III and his wife Libby of Granada, Nicaragua, Daniel Diaz of Tucker, Georgia, Anita D. Trujillo and her husband Manny of Royston, Georgia, Leonila D. Maloney and her husband Greg of Covington, Georgia, and Juan Diaz and his wife Kelly of Sandersville, Georgia; 12 grandchildren; and 10 great grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org.
Condolences may be expressed online at mayandsmithfuneraldirectors.com.
May and Smith Funeral Directors of Sandersville is in charge of these arrangements.