Ted Jerome Randolph

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Ted Jerome Randolph was born October 18, 1947, to Elmore Thurman + Sylvia Randolph in Indianapolis, IN. As an infant, Ted moved to Gainesville, GA with his family, where he grew up and attended Hall County public schools. Ted attended E.E. Butler High School, home of the TIGERS, where he played guard wearing the number 62, later graduated in 1965. 

 At the age of 19, Ted joined the United States Marine Corps September 22, 1966, and served active duty in Vietnam Until April 18, 1969. Returning from Vietnam back to the United States, Lance Corporal Ted Randolph (Randy) transferred to Marine Corps Reserve/Kansas City, MO district, where he received an honorable discharge on April 26, 1972. While serving our country, Ted received a National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with two Presidential Unit Citations, Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device, and the Good Conduct Medal. The two he was most proud of were The Marksman Badge with Rifle, and the Expert Badge with Pistol.

Upon his discharge he returned to Indianapolis where he met and later married Jessie Lee James on April 20, 1976. From this union, two daughters were born, Sylvia Denise, and Tasha La’Jean. Ted also gained two stepchildren, Dianna (Lynn), and Kenneth (Ken) James. 

 Ted was employed at DETROIT DIESEL/Allison, for 15 years, and LINK-BELT/Bearing Division for 17 years. He spent his career as a master machinist and welder until he subsequently retired from his labor in 2008.

 Ted took the whole 'Enjoy Your Golden Years' thing very seriously. He loved to spend his days lounging in front of the big screen, driving around in style, buying whatever he wanted, but the thing he loved more than anything, traveling to see the people he loved. He was a loving father and grandfather, a devoted brother, an uncle, a cousin, and a friend to many.

 Ted Randolph departed this life January 10, 2025, at the age of 77 years old. He was preceded in death by his parents, Elmore Stanley Thurman, and Sylvia Inez Pipkin, two sisters, Diane Williams and Toni Pipkin, and one brother, Fontice Pipkin Jr.

 He leaves to honor his memory, the mother of his children, Jessie Lee Randolph, two daughters, Sylvia Rodriguez (Francisco), and Tasha Kirksey (Nathan), two stepchildren, Dianna James, and Kenneth James (Tracey), three brothers, Donald Randolph (Winifred), Vernon Pipkin (Willa), and Stanley Thurman, eight grandchildren, Fred and Jeremy Rice, Kenneth Jr, Michael, and Marcus James, Dorian and Brooke Luster, and Natalia Kirksey, 7 great grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, and lifelong friends. He also leaves an adopted daughter, Terrice Wallace, and two adopted grandchildren, Willie Chapman,III, and Bayla Keets.