Danielle James Rutland
October 6, 1971 ~ July 26, 2025
Danielle James Rutland of Acworth, GA was born on October 6th, 1971, in Bayshore, NY to Denise Marie James and James Francis Neller. Danielle transitioned on July 26th, 2025, after a heroic battle with stage 4 cancer.
Danielle spent her whole career with Southern Company where she was a highly respected and cherished employee. Danielle spent over 20 years working as an executive managing projects ranging from governance and compliance to workforce strategy. She was known for her unique approach to servant leadership, her fine-tuned interpersonal skills, and her generosity in mentoring young colleagues. Work was a beloved part of Danielle’s life and brought her great joy.
She had a singular ability to make everyone feel special and loved; her gifts of compassion and kindness will continue to inspire those who were fortunate enough to know her.
Danielle enjoyed hiking, skiing and riding jet skis with her children and loved ones. She’s most known for her warm, inclusive ways, sparkling eyes and beautiful smile by those she loved and worked with as well as her close loved ones. Her greatest pride was for the lovely people her children are becoming.
She was preceded in death by her adopted father, John Collins James Jr. of Portland, Oregon.
She leaves, to cherish her loving memory, her children, Tyler Rutland and Parker Rutland, both students at Kennesaw State where they follow in her footsteps as she is an alumni there; and her youngest, her daughter Emma Rutland; her loving mother and best friend Denise James, all of Acworth, GA; and her brother, John Collins James III of Portland, OR; and countless beloved aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
She will be missed dearly and remembered by all of her loving family and friends. Danielle’s life was a blessing to us all, and her memory is a treasure. She is loved and will be missed beyond words and measure. The loss we feel so deeply without her near is fathomless, but so is the love she left behind. Our heartbreak is the price we pay for having known and loved her.
Memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 9, 2025, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM at Southern Cremations & Funerals in Marietta, Georgia.
The family wishes to sincerely thank, with much appreciation, the many expressions of love, concern, and kindness shown to them during this time of bereavement. May God bless you and keep you.
Pictures will be especially appreciated in addition to flowers, also, in lieu of flowers for those who ask, donations to https://gallbladdercancer.org/giving/ - would be appreciated.
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Danielle was a beautiful person inside and out. I loved working with her because she was smart and so much fun. I never saw her without a smile on her face. It breaks my heart that she was taken from this world too soon.
Danielle was a wonderful friend and colleague and was always kind and supportive to me, my family and all who came in contact with her.
Danielle was smart, compassionate and a model employee. She helped many and was a dear friend. She will be missed.
Cousin – a child of one’s uncle or aunt
No, Cousins are much more than that. They are kindred spirits, confidantes and sounding boards, shoulders to cry on, best friends, and even your favorite partners in crime. The bond that exists between cousins extends beyond simple kinship.
Cousins are like puzzle pieces. Each cousin, like a puzzle piece, is unique, with their own personality, experiences and perspective. And, while each piece is unique, they are designed to fit together and compliment each other and complete the picture. My life has been blessed with many puzzle pieces, but now one of those pieces is missing and the puzzle is incomplete.
My amazing cousin Danielle – “There are no goodbyes for us. Wherever you are, you will always be in my heart”.
I love you!
Brian (Kel)
So sad to hear this news. Danielle was always upbeat and positive, willing to listen and learn. Condolences to her family.
Danielle was not just a teammate; she was a mentor. Our conversations about the future were inspiring—she aimed for the stars while I often brought us back to reality. For that, I apologize. It’s said that when you enjoy the fruits of your harvest, remember those who helped you plant the trees. Danielle, you will always be remembered as someone who helped me plant many of the trees in my harvest.
Danielle was SO beautiful inside and out. I worked with her off and on for years and she was always willing to help solve a problem. She was even-tempered, kind, thoughtful and joyful. I will miss her.
I had the privilege of working alongside Danielle Rutland during our time at Georgia Power, and her passing is a profound loss to all who knew her. Danielle was more than a colleague, she was a trusted friend, a thoughtful leader, and a person of deep intentionality.
What set Danielle apart was her unwavering commitment to people. In every conversation, every strategy session, and every decision, she made sure the human element came first. I remember how she helped me navigate the challenges of managing engineering and line worker attrition; not just with data and insight, but with empathy and a clear focus on the individuals behind the numbers.
Danielle believed that business decisions should never come at the expense of people, and she lived that belief every day. Her legacy is one of compassion, clarity, and courage. She made us all better leaders, better teammates, and better people.
She will be deeply missed, but her influence will continue to guide us forward.
Danielle will remain in our hearts forever. With much love, The DeCicco Family Christine, Dan, Jamie, Erin & Devin
Much love to you all
Danielle and I became friends as we navigated through parenthood together. As our kids grew up we found a friendship that went beyond our children. It was a joy to celebrate success and support each other in life’s challenges. I will miss her so much.
Danielle has left a lasting impression on Georgia Power and the people she had the opportunity to interact with. With an unmatched passion for helping people, I very much appreciated what she did for others.
Thinking of you during this difficult time. May these flowers be a gentle reminder that you’re surrounded by care, support and heartfelt sympathy.
Danielle will be in our hearts always and forever.
We are so heartbroken and share our deepest sympathies.With Love From Danielle’s Aunts & Uncles,Diane, Rese, Mike, Tommy, Stacy, Christine & Dan
With Love,Brian, Chelsa, Michael, Razeela, Amanda, Joe, Justin, Ashley, Lyndsey, Candace, Jared, Becca, Jennifer, Chris, Jamie, Erin & Devin
Jim, I can’t begin to imagine what an enormous loss Danielle’s passing must be for you and your children. Your past coworkers at Southern Company care about you and offer our condolences and heartfelt sympathy at this difficult time.
We are thinking of you during this difficult time. May her memory continue to live on through all of you who loved her . Xoxo
When I think of Danielle, the song that comes to mind is Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds.” She embodied happiness and positivity, no matter the circumstances. Danielle was always ready to take on the next challenge for the good of Georgia Power, both in workforce and community. She supported my goals wholeheartedly and often expressed how happy she was that I chose to work with her. She never wanted to be introduced as my boss, always insisting that we were colleagues who shared mutual respect. That’s the kind of leader she was—one who ignited a fire within me to exceed any challenge she assigned, just to make her proud.
Working for her (oops, I mean with her 😊) brought me immense joy and pride in being part of Georgia Power. Danielle had a way of making me laugh with her stories about Chick-fil-A runs for her baby girl and how proud she was of her sons. She would share about her brother’s visits and how her mom’s lessons carried her through many life stages. Danielle absolutely adored her family, and she also cherished her Georgia Power family and loved her work. Her enthusiasm for building strategic relationships and her passion for HR and workforce strategy matched mine, and I loved the magic she brought to our team.
I smile when I think of her. I will forever remember the empowering private conversations and the many prayers we shared during her health journey. What a champion she was, continuing the fight even in fatigue. I know she is in heaven now, in perfect health, peace and happiness, an angel who will forever watch over her children. I love you and will miss you, Danielle.
Denise and Family, I can’t express how sorry I am for your loss. Danielle will always be in our thoughts. She will be always be missed.
I will always remember the great times we had! Till we meet again woman
Danielle was a very good friend to me and my family. My sisters thought the world of her and said she’s was such a nice lady. I met Danielle when she was pregnant with Tyler and eventually cared for him, Parker and Emma in my home.
She was an awesome Mother to her children. She loved talking about the kids and bringing me up to date with their achievements. Danielle gifted me with many thoughtful gifts throughout our friendship and I will cherish them all the more.
She was loved and will be missed so much by our family.