Mary Donalson

Mary Frances Donalson, 86, of Attapulgus, GA, passed away Thursday, September 24, 2009 at Memorial Manor Nursing Home. The funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, September 26, 2009 at Attapulgus United Methodist Church with Rev. Lynn Hurley officiating. Interment will follow at Attapulgus United Methodist Church Cemetery with Ed Smith, Thomas Parker, Donald Boyett, Richard Hughes, Kyle Duke and Mark Godby serving as active pallbearers. The family will receive friends Friday, September 25, 2009 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Ivey Funeral Home. Online visitors may sign the guest register at www.iveyfuneral.com . Mary Frances was born April 14, 1923 in Attapulgus, GA, the daughter of Julian Little Donalson and Annie Lillian Oglesby Donalson. She graduated from Attapulgus High School and from Georgia State Women's College in 1944 (now Valdosta State University). She taught school in Attapulgus and West Bainbridge and then worked for Bainbridge Production Credit Association. She joined The Post Searchlight, working for Marvin Griffin for 5 years, and then ran her own independent news agency for several years. She was a sales associate for Kmart for 10 years and rejoined The Post Searchlight where she worked for Sam Griffin for over 20 years. Mary Frances was very active in social and civic organizations. She was a past president of Beta Sigma Phi sorority, the last living charter member of Bainbridge Pilot Club, a past president of Decatur County Safety Council, a past president of Decatur County Saddle Club, a director of Bainbridge Decatur County Humane Society, a member of Bainbridge Decatur County Artists Guild and Bainbridge Decatur County Council for the Arts, and served as a volunteer for the American Red Cross, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society and the Tuberculosis Association. She was a co-founder of Southwest Georgia Hemerocallis Society and an exhibition judge and garden judge for the American Hemerocallis Society. She studied art with Mary Cox for many years and rode Tennessee Walking Horses in shows until she was 83. She was a member of Attapulgus United Methodist Church where she was Lay Leader and a certified Lay Speaker. She was a district vice president for United Methodist Women, taught Sunday School, and served as a conference representative, a MYF counselor, and on the Administrative Board. For 12 years she conducted monthly services for Hannatown United Methodist Church. Survivors include second cousins, Lynette Tate and her husband Bob, Carolyn Sickmon and her husband Don, Debbie Strickland and her husband Ben, Berry Smith, all of Attapulgus, GA, Bettye Kicklighter and her husband Jerry of Stone Mountain, GA, Peggy Mosely of Green Cove Springs, FL, and Jerri Brown of St. Augustine, FL.