DEAN, Lillian Mayes

Mrs. Lillian Mayes Dean, age 98 of Rockmart, passed away Saturday, July 17, 2021.

Mrs. Dean was born April 7, 1923 in Camak, GA, daughter of the late Edward Mayes and Dixie Wade Mayes. She worked as a bookkeeper for Marquette Cement Company and the Polk County Tax Assessor’s Office. She enjoyed reading, birdwatching, music, crossword puzzles, and shopping, but her favorite thing to do was travel. Her most memorable trips were to Europe and Alaska.

Mrs. Dean was also a dedicated member of the First Baptist Church of Rockmart, where she sang in the choir for 62 years and spent many years teaching kindergarten Sunday School. She was the director of the Women’s Missionary Union (WMU) and had a lifelong passion for missionary work.

The youngest of nine children, she was preceded in death by her parents and eight siblings. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Bill Dean.

Survivors included son and daughter-in-law, Stephen and Julia Dean of Rockmart; daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Joe Abell of Athens; grandchildren: Clark Dean, Laura Nesbitt, Emilie Abell, Amy Abell, and Joseph Abell; and great-grandchildren: Bella Nesbitt, Addie Nesbitt, Liam Nesbitt, Lizzy Dean, Lexie Dean, Livie Dean, and Lucas Dean.

Funeral services for Mrs. Dean were held Tuesday, July 20, 2021 at 2:00 P.M. at the First Baptist Church of Rockmart with Rev. David Taylor officiating. Interment services followed in Rose Hill Cemetery.

The family received friends at the church on Tuesday, July 20, 2021 from 11:00 A.M. until 1:00 P.M.

Freeman Harris Funeral Home was in charge of the funeral arrangements for Mrs. Lillian Mayes Dean.

SMILE BECAUSE HE LIVED

You can shed tears that he is gone, or you can smile because he lived. You can close your eyes and pray that he will come back, or you can open your eyes and see all that he has left. Your heart can be empty because you can’t see him, or you can be full of the love that you shared. You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday, or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday. You can remember him and only that he is gone, or you can cherish his memory and let it live on. You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn back, or you can do what he would want: Smile, open your eyes, love and go on.

— Author Unknown

REMEMBER ME Remember me in quiet days, while raindrops whisper on your pane. But in your memories have no grief, let just the joy we knew remain. Remember me when evening stars look down on you with steadfast eyes. Remember if once you wake to catch a glimpse of red sunrise. And when your thoughts do turn to me, know that I would not have you cry. But live for me and laugh for me, when you are happy, so am I. Remember an old joke we shared; remember me when spring walks by. Think once of me when you are glad, and while you live, I shall not die.

— Author Unknown