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In Memory of
Jesse Tarplin
February 18, 1977 - December 12, 2015

Officer Jesse Tarplin Obituary Send Flowers Send a Card Officer Jesse A. Tarplin, 38, of Douglasville, Georgia, on Saturday, December 12, 2015. Funeral services will be held at Jackson Memorial Baptist Church, 534 Fairburn Rd. NW Atlanta, Ga 30331 at 2:00 PM. Dr. Gregory Sutton, Pastor. Pastor Dwayne Jackson, Eulogist. The viewing will be Friday December 19, 2015 from 9 AM-9 PM at Willie A. Watkins Funeral Home,1003 Ralph David Abernathy 30310 and the wake will be from 6 PM-7 PM at the same location. Mr. Tarplin was married to Dominique Tarplin and was employed with MARTA as a police officer for over eleven years. Survivors include his wife, five children and one on the way. Adrian, Javious, Tylan, Jessica, Morgan and Baby Tarplin. He is also survived by his parents Jesse L. and Shirley Tarplin. Brothers Enrique Jackson and Willie (Marilyn) Hubbard, and one sister Angelica Tarplin.Father-in-law Walter Almond, and James (Nelva) Gorden. Final arrangements entrusted to Willie A. Watkins Funeral Home Carrollton Chapel. 770-836-0044. Police Officer Jesse Tarplin was killed in a motorcycle crash while escorting a funeral procession during an off duty assignment at approximately 12:45 pm. The procession was leaving the funeral home when Officer Tarplin's motorcycle collided with the back of a vehicle near the intersection of Utoy Springs Road and Fairburn Road SW. He was transported Grady Memorial Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries a short time later. Officer Tarplin had served with the MARTA Transit Police Department for 11 years. He is survived by his expectant wife and five children. Please contact the following agency to send condolences or to obtain funeral arrangements: Chief of Police Wanda Dunham Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority Police Department 2424 Piedmont Road NE Atlanta, GA 30324 Phone: (404) 848-4900 An off-duty MARTA police officer and former Georgia Tech football standout died Saturday after a motorcycle crash outside a Fulton County funeral home, officials said. Jesse Tarplin, 38, was an 11-year veteran of the MARTA police force. Fulton County police Lt. Scott McBride said Tarplin was escorting a funeral procession from the Murray Brothers Funeral Home — on Utoy Springs Road near Cascade Road — when he collided with a vehicle that was stopped for the procession. “We’re not sure why,” McBride said. MARTA cop, ex-Ga. Tech standout killed in funeral procession crash photo Jesse Tarplin (Credit: MARTA) The crash happened around 12:45 p.m. and Tarplin was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital, where he later died. Tarplin was a graduate of Cross Keys High School and played football for Georgia Tech from 1995-98. He started at defensive end for two years and earned second-team All-ACC honors as a senior, according to the Georgia Tech website. Tarplin was off-duty and on his personal motorcycle during the crash, McBride said. No charges are expected to be filed against the driver of the other vehicle, he said.An off-duty MARTA police officer and former Georgia Tech football standout died Saturday after a motorcycle crash outside a Fulton County funeral home, officials said. Jesse Tarplin, 38, was an 11-year veteran of the MARTA police force. Fulton County police Lt. Scott McBride said Tarplin was escorting a funeral procession from the Murray Brothers Funeral Home — on Utoy Springs Road near Cascade Road — when he collided with a vehicle that was stopped for the procession. “We’re not sure why,” McBride said. MARTA cop, ex-Ga. Tech standout killed in funeral procession crash photo Jesse Tarplin (Credit: MARTA) The crash happened around 12:45 p.m. and Tarplin was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital, where he later died. Tarplin was a graduate of Cross Keys High School and played football for Georgia Tech from 1995-98. He started at defensive end for two years and earned second-team All-ACC honors as a senior, according to the Georgia Tech website. Tarplin was off-duty and on his personal motorcycle during the crash, McBride said. No charges are expected to be filed against the driver of the other vehicle, he said.An off-duty MARTA police officer and former Georgia Tech football standout died Saturday after a motorcycle crash outside a Fulton County funeral home, officials said. Jesse Tarplin, 38, was an 11-year veteran of the MARTA police force. Fulton County police Lt. Scott McBride said Tarplin was escorting a funeral procession from the Murray Brothers Funeral Home — on Utoy Springs Road near Cascade Road — when he collided with a vehicle that was stopped for the procession. “We’re not sure why,” McBride said. MARTA cop, ex-Ga. Tech standout killed in funeral procession crash photo Jesse Tarplin (Credit: MARTA) The crash happened around 12:45 p.m. and Tarplin was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital, where he later died. Tarplin was a graduate of Cross Keys High School and played football for Georgia Tech from 1995-98. He started at defensive end for two years and earned second-team All-ACC honors as a senior, according to the Georgia Tech website. Tarplin was off-duty and on his personal motorcycle during the crash, McBride said. No charges are expected to be filed against the driver of the other vehicle, he said.An off-duty MARTA police officer and former Georgia Tech football standout died Saturday after a motorcycle crash outside a Fulton County funeral home, officials said. Jesse Tarplin, 38, was an 11-year veteran of the MARTA police force. Fulton County police Lt. Scott McBride said Tarplin was escorting a funeral procession from the Murray Brothers Funeral Home — on Utoy Springs Road near Cascade Road — when he collided with a vehicle that was stopped for the procession. “We’re not sure why,” McBride said. MARTA cop, ex-Ga. Tech standout killed in funeral procession crash photo Jesse Tarplin (Credit: MARTA) The crash happened around 12:45 p.m. and Tarplin was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital, where he later died. Tarplin was a graduate of Cross Keys High School and played football for Georgia Tech from 1995-98. He started at defensive end for two years and earned second-team All-ACC honors as a senior, according to the Georgia Tech website. Tarplin was off-duty and on his personal motorcycle during the crash, McBride said. No charges are expected to be filed against the driver of the other vehicle, he 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AT TECH: Two year starter at defensive end who earned all-conference honors as a senior . . . Has 14 career sacks, all in his last two seasons . . . That ranks seventh on Tech?s career list . . Totalled 21 tackles for minus yardage, along with 172 tackles, 12 pressures and 11 pass breakups . . . Possesses good speed and quickness . . . Has the ability to make big plays . . . Played outside linebacker as a freshman but quickly outgrew the position. 1998: All-Atlantic Coast Conference defensive end, earning second-team honors . . . Second on the team and fourth in the ACC with nine quarterback sacks . . . Tech?s third-leading tackler with 72 hits . . . Also had two tackles for loss, three pass breakups and two caused fumbles . . . Named Tech?s Outstanding Defensive Lineman . . . Caused the fumble against New Mexico State that began Tech?s NCAA season record of seven fumbles returned for touchdowns . . . Had three sacks in Tech?s win over NC State . . . Career-high 12 tackles, plus one sack and one pressure in victory over Clemson . . . Recovered a fumble by Notre Dame quarterback Jarious Jackson that ended the Irish?s final drive and preserved Tech?s 35-28 win . . . Played in the All-Star Gridiron Classic in Orlando, Fla., following his senior season. 1997: Tied for the team lead in quarterback sacks with five . . . Led the team in pass breakups with seven . . . Tech?s fifth-leading tackler with 68 hits . . . Also collected four tackles for loss, six pressures, a fumble recovery and an interception . . . Impressive performance in Tech?s win over Maryland, when he made eight tackles, two sacks for 18 yards, two tackles for minus-four yards, a pass breakup and a pressure . . . Against Georgia, he intercepted a pass at the Bulldog six-yard line and batted down two more passes while making seven tackles . . . Career-high 10 tackles against Notre Dame . . . Made five tackles, a sack, a tackle for loss and a pass breakup against NC State . . . Turned in one of the key plays of the NC State game when he picked up a fumble in the fourth quarter and returned it 27 yards to set up a field goal that sealed Tech?s 27-17 victory . . . Credited with eight tackles, a pass deflection and a pressure against North Carolina . . . Added eight tackles, one tackle for loss and a pass breakup in win over Clemson . . . Had six tackles, a sack and pressure against Wake Forest. 1996: Credited with 18 tackles and three pressures as a reserve . . . Saw his most extensive playing time against Duke and made a career-high five tackles . . . Made two tackles with one sack for a nine-yard loss against Georgia . . . Had two tackles and two quarterback pressures against Wake Forest . . . Added three tackles and a pressure against North Carolina. 1995: True freshman who played in seven games as a backup at outside linebacker and on special teams . . . Made 14 tackles . . . Likely would have made a greater impact had he not broken his thumb in the preseason . . . Was impressive in practice, moving up to second team at outside linebacker before he fractured his right thumb (first metacarpal bone) and missed six weeks . . . Returned for the Duke game . . . Season-high three tackles against Florida State with one tackle for loss . . . Also made three tackles against North Carolina and Clemson. HIGH SCHOOL: One of the top prep linebackers in the nation . . . Selected to Blue Chips Illustrated Dream Team prep all-America squad . . . Rated by Blue Chips as the 10th-best inside linebacker in the nation and fifth-best in the Southeast . . . Ranked the 17th-best prospect in Dixie by SuperPrep magazine, which also tabbed him to the Elite 100 . . . Earned a 9.75 ranking from Jeff Whitaker?s Deep South Football . . . Rated the 40th best prospect in the Southeast by the Tom Lemming Report . . . Named one of the Top 111 prepsters in Georgia by Georgia High School Football . . . Named to the Top 50 in Georgia and Super Southern 100 by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution . . . Ranked the No. 13 strong-side linebacker in the nation by the National Recruiting Advisor . . . All-state for two seasons at Cross Keys High . . . Managed 187 tackles as a senior with seven quarterback sacks and 12 tackles for loss . . . Also recorded four interceptions, returning one for a touchdown, four fumble recoveries and six caused fumbles . . . Had over 100 tackles with six sacks and two fumble recoveries for touchdowns as a junior . . . Also played tight end as a senior with 12 receptions for 200 yards and two touchdowns . . . A three-year starter at tight end and inside linebacker for coach Bill Harris. PERSONAL: Full name is Jesse Arthiniel Tarplin . . . Parents are Jesse and Shirley Tarplin . . . Born February 18, 1977 . . . Majoring in Management. GAME-BY-GAME STATISTICS 1998 Ply P-A-T TFL Sck FC FR Int PB PR Boston Col.? 67 0-1-1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 NMSU? 57 4-2-6 0-0 1-16 1 0 0 1 0 N. Carolina? 38 6-1-7 0 0.5-8 1 0 0 1 0 Duke? 60 4-1-5 0 1.5-13 0 0 0 0 0 NC State? 70 5-22-7 0 3-17 1 0 0 0 0 Virginia? 81 4-1-5 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Florida State? 61 5-4-9 0 1-7 0 0 0 1 0 Maryland? 52 4-2-6 1-1 1-12 0 0 0 0 1 Clemson? 63 8-4-12 0 1-9 0 0 0 0 1 Wake Forest? 51 3-3-6 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Georgia? 63 5-3-8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Notre Dame?# 3-3-6 0 0.5-8 0 1 0 0 1 1997 Ply P-A-T TFL Sck FC FR Int PB PR Notre Dame? 56 5-5-10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Wake Forest? 51 3-3-6 1-10 0 0 0 0 0 1 Clemson? 53 5-3-8 1-1 0 0 0 0 1 0 Boston College? 35 2-2-4 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 NC State? 48 4-1-5 1-4 1-7 0 1 0 1 0 Florida State? 51 3-2-5 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 No. Carolina? 78 6-2-8 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 Virginia? 56 3-1-4 0 1-7 0 0 0 0 1 Duke? 4 1-1-2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Maryland? 60 5-3-8 2-4 2-18 0 0 0 1 1 Georgia? 69 3-4-7 0 0 0 0 1-0 2 0 West Va.?# 44 0-2-2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1996 Ply P-A-T TFL Sck FC FR Int PB PR NC State 9 0-1-1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Wake Forest 25 1-1-2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 No. Carolina 24 1-2-3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Duke 28 2-3-5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Virginia 7 0-1-1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Clemson DNP Central Florida 5 0-0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Florida State 10 1-0-1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Maryland 9 0-0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Navy 15 0-3-3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Georgia 6 2-0-2 1-9 0 0 0 0 0 0 1995 Ply P-A-T TFL Sck FC FR Int PB PR Duke 0 0-0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 North Carolina 10 3-0-3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Florida State 3 2-1-3 1-2 0 0 0 0 0 0 Clemson 7 1-2-3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Wake Forest 18 2-0-2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 NC State 10 0-1-1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Georgia 6 1-1-2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ? Game Started # Bowl game stats are not included in season or career totals CAREER STATISTICS Year G-GS P-A Tkl TFL Sck FC FR Int PB PR 1995 7-0 9-5 14 1-2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1996 10-0 6-12 18 1-9 0 0 0 0 0 3 1997 11-11 41-27 68 4-9 5-42 0 1-27 1-0 7 6 1998 11-11 48-24 72 1-1 9-82 2 0 0 4 3 Total 39- 104-68 172 7-21 14-124 2 1-27 1-0 11 12 CAREER HIGHS Tackles: 12 vs. Clemson, 1998 TFL: 2 vs. Maryland, 1997 Sacks: 3 vs. N.C. State, 1998 Int: 1 vs. Georgia, 1997 PB: 2 vs. Georgia, 1997 PR: 2 vs. Wake Forest, 1996 ShareMORE printPRINT emailEMAIL Increase Font SizeD