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Former Georgia GOP U.S. senator Johnny Isakson remembered

Politicians and family members are remembering Georgia Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson's ability to build consensus and win friends

Via AP news wire
Thursday 06 January 2022 16:22 EST
Johnny Isakson-Memorial
Johnny Isakson-Memorial (Ben Gray)

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Senators, Georgia politicians, family members and friends held one last meeting of what Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell called the ā€œJohnny Isakson fan clubā€ on Thursday, remembering the Georgia Republican's friendship and love.

Isakson, 76, died Dec. 19 at his home in Atlanta Elected three times, the Republican stepped down at the end of 2019, after announcing that his physical health was declining because of Parkinson's disease.

ā€œNow we all know this is a polarized time. Unity is in short supply," McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, told Isakson's memorial service at Peachtree Road Methodist Church in Atlanta. ā€œBut the gigantic and diverse Johnny Isakson fan club has never failed to pack a room.ā€

Isakson was a dealmaker and consensus builder, with multiple mourners making reference to the barbecue lunch that Isakson hosted annually to build friendships among senators across party lines.

ā€œHe particularly loved to vote for a bipartisan bill and authored an awful lot of bipartisan legislation,ā€ said former Georgia senator Saxby Chambliss.

As many as 20 current and former senators attended, as well as a who's who of Georgia politics including Gov. Brian Kemp and former governors Nathan Deal and Roy Barnes.

A millionaire real estate broker, Isakson was one of the founding fathers of the Georgia Republican Party. He spent more than four decades in political life, rising through the state House and state Senate to Congress when he won Newt Gingrichā€™s former seat before winning a Senate seat in 2014.

ā€œTo be clear, our colleague was a savvy legislator, a cunning dealmaker," McConnell said. "There wasnā€™t a naive bone in his body. But Johnnyā€™s achievements didnā€™t come despite his quiet virtues, they came because of those virtues.ā€

Senate Chaplain Barry Black remembered that it was Isakson who asked that the two be prayer partners and said Isakson asked him to speak at the service.

ā€œIt dawned on me, this brother is ready; this brother is finishing strong," Black said of Isakson's attitude toward his struggle with Parkinson's.

Isakson's children shared more personal remembrances. Son Kevin Isakson talked about his father's interest and attention to his family, remembering that as Isakson's Parkinson's Disease progressed, he would exercise by walking to Kevin Isakson's house and visiting.

ā€œHe would walk up to my house; it was about a mile, uphill," Isakson said. "He would come in and he would take a break. Heā€™d have a cup of water and check in on whoever was there.ā€

Daughter Julie Mitchell remembered all the things her father had done for her ā€” teaching her how to drive, walking her down the aisle to be married, and buying the keg for her University of Georgia graduation party. ā€œGo Dawgs,ā€ she said to laughter.

Son John Isakson remembered instruction from his father on how to give a speech in middle school, calling it ā€œthe best advice anyone everā€™s gotten about how to talk to people."

ā€œHe was that great,ā€ John Isakson said. ā€œI loved him very much. I will miss him every day.ā€

___

Follow Jeff Amy at http://twitter.com/jeffamy.

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