John Talbert "Johnny" Ladson

John Talbert “Johnny” Ladson 49, passed away at his home in Atlanta, Georgia on February 28, 2025. He was a man of uncommon and unlimited gifts. His loss is deeply felt by all who knew him.  Johnny was a native of Vidalia, Georgia, and loved his community and thrived in it. As a young man he enjoyed the outdoors and his bird dogs, foreshadowing a lifelong love of animals and wing shooting.  He attended the Episcopal Church of the Annunciation and served as an acolyte there for many years.  He graduated from Vidalia Comprehensive High School with honors and as its “Star Student” in 1994. He served on the student council and participated in debate and drama club. Johnny excelled at athletics as well as academics and was a highly competitive wrestler. In addition, he was a very creative individual and always had the ability to write well and became a skilled sketch artist.

Johnny continued his education at Dartmouth College, where he received a degree in English. While there, he was an active brother of the Psi U fraternity and a member of the Sphinx Society. He also rowed on the lightweight crew team and formed many enduring friendships throughout his college years.  Johnny went on to have a career in Atlanta real estate, beginning at Gables Residential. He would become the Director of Development for construction there and would serve in this role for 20 years. Johnny also served on the Board of Directors for the Georgia Apartment Association and the Atlanta Apartment Association. In the last few years of his life, Johnny used his knowledge and experience to help manage his family’s commercial properties.

He met his wife, Louise DeLong Ladson in 2013 and the two were married in Highlands, North Carolina in 2014. This was the beginning of the most meaningful chapter of his life – the creation of his family. He loved his son, William Talbert “Tee” Ladson and his daughter, Catherine Moira “Wren” Ladson devotedly and shared many of his passions with them including baseball, hiking, hunting, fishing, and exploring the woods and waterways of Nutall Rise, Florida. He was fully engaged in all their hobbies and interests as well.  Johnny participated in several charities. The advancement of Ovarian and childhood cancer research was an important cause to him. He contributed to several organizations in these fields. Johnny also became closely involved with Urban Community Life, Inc. in the last year of his life.  He will be remembered as a loving son and brother, a loyal husband, an exceptionally proud father and an unflinching friend.  Johnny was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents John Elzie “Jack” Ladson, Jr. and Margaret Brice Ladson and his maternal grandparents Dr. Talbert Cooper and Catherine Gray Cooper.

In addition to his wife and children, Johnny is survived by his parents, John Elzie Ladson, III and Susan Cooper Ladson of Vidalia; sisters, Margaret Ladson Floyd (Mike) of Evans, Georgia, and Dorsey Ladson McMichael of Vidalia, Georgia; uncles, Mitchell Brice Ladson (Tina) of Richmond Hill, Georgia, Talbert Cooper, Jr. (Darcy) of Fort Pierce, Florida, James McGinty Cooper of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida and, cousins: Mitchell Brice “Mitch” Ladson, Jr. of Columbus, Georgia, Catherine Cooper Ryan of Jupiter, Florida, Debbie Dunkin of North Palm Beach, Florida and Renee Hardie of Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina and several nieces and nephews.

A private memorial service has been scheduled.

Memorial contributions may be forwarded to: Urban Community Life, 4147 County Road 106, Mentone, AL  35984.

Ronald V. Hall Funeral Home of Vidalia is in charge of arrangements.

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