Mary Gertrude McLendon, 91, formerly of Fayetteville, died on Monday, August 21, 2017.
Mary McLendon was a remarkable woman. She lived a life of faith, dedication, love, sacrifice, and spunk. She was the first American child born to immigrant parents, and grew up during the Great Depression and World War II. She was a very successful business woman in a time when only a few women were accepted in business leadership positions. She helped manage 3 successful family businesses, one with her brother and 2 with her husband, including McLendon’s Sporting Goods, a long time, thriving business in Forest Park, Ga. She was a woman of endless talent, from being an excellent seamstress, making her own wedding dress, to writing her first novel, A SOUTHERN IMMIGRANT, at the age of 85.
To her family she was most remarkable with what was most important to her, and that was being a mother and grandma. She had high expectations of all her family and raised the first generation of college graduates. She saw all of her grandchildren graduate from college and a grandson Matthew, complete his Doctorate. She will be missed by her many friends at Baptist Manor/Palmetto Park, Flat Creek Baptist Church, and all who were blessed to call Mary their friend.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Perrin McLendon; parents, George & Hermanese Hilverink; sister, Jeanette Hurley and brother, John Hilverink.
Mary is survived by daughter Mary Ann (Jim) Babb; son, Bob (Sharon) McLendon; 4 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held on at 3 p.m. on Thursday, August 24, 2017, at the Chapel of Mowell Funeral Home, Peachtree City. Dr. J.W. Wallis will be officiating. The family will receive visitors 1 hour prior to the service. Burial will follow at Westminster Memorial Gardens, Peachtree City.
Carl J. Mowell & Son Funeral Home, Peachtree City –www.mowellfuneralhome.com.
