Marian Stovall Fisher, age 95, died peacefully on May 30. Marian was born in Gainesville, GA to Esther Stovall Fisher (later Harden) and Samuel Boyce Fisher. She moved with her family to Griffin, Waycross, Thomaston, Ila, and Lavonia due to her father’s work with the State Highway Department, but always considered Northeast Georgia “home.”

After graduating from Lavonia High School, Marian went to the University of Georgia, graduating with a B.S. in Family and Consumer Sciences and a Masters in Extension Education. She taught high school Home Economics in Lavonia briefly and, during World War II, trained as an aide to a cartographic engineer with the TVA in Chattanooga, Tennessee. A friend gave her name to a University of Georgia Extension District Home Economist, and Marian began what was to be her life-long career with the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service, working over the years as an Extension Agent in Walton, Columbia, Richmond and Fulton Counties, primarily in the 4-H and Youth Program. She spent the latter part of her career in Athens on the 4-H District and State staffs, retiring in 1978.

Marian, along with her mother Esther, was a charter member of Milledge Avenue Baptist Church. Over the years she sang in the choir, served as the Sunday School General Secretary and on the Sunday School Cabinet, was Secretary of the Senior Adult Council, and participated in the Senior Adult Program, for many years driving the church van for senior adult trips (aka
“travelin’ with Marian”). In 1985 she was the first woman to be elected a Deacon and later became Deacon Emeritus.

She was active in multiple professional organizations, including Pilot Club of Athens, serving as President from 1980-1981. She volunteered for the YWCA in Augusta, Piedmont Athens Regional Hospital and Meals on
Wheels, and “worked the polls.”

She loved to travel, visiting every U.S. state except Hawaii and travelling internationally to Mexico, Canada, Austria, Israel, Syria, Turkey, Greece and the Greek Isles, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, France, England, Scotland, Wales, Norway, and Sweden. She often counselled, “Go while you can.”

Marian is survived by her sister-in-law Mildred; nieces Jane and Sue (Rand); great niece Julie (Tim); great nephews Avery and Thomas; great-great niece Sophie Marian; and many beloved cousins. She was preceded in death by her brother Hugh.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 16 at 2:00 p.m. at Milledge Avenue Baptist Church, 1690 S Milledge Avenue, Athens, GA 30605. Private interment will be at Burgess Cemetery in Lavonia. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Music Scholarship Fund at Milledge Avenue Baptist Church (address above) or the Georgia 4-H Foundation, 306 Hoke Smith Annex, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602.

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