Marie E. Pearson, age 95, of Tifton, Georgia, formerly of Grand Rapids, Michigan and Zephyrhills, Florida, went home to her Lord on April 27, 2015. Visitation will be held at Bowen-Donaldson Funeral Home on Saturday, May 2, 2015, from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. to be followed by the funeral at 11:00 a.m. in the Bowen-Donaldson Chapel with the Rev. Chad Hall of Chula Baptist Church presiding. Burial will follow at Oak Ridge Cemetery.
The grandchildren will serve as pallbearers.
Born on November 16, 1919 in Horton Bay in Northern Michigan, she was one of five children of the late Benjamin and Margaret Spura Belknap. She was a dedicated educator, nurturing mother and beloved grandmother. She will always be admired for her love of family and friends and remembered for her amazing meals and desserts. Her exceptional hospitality extended to church, school and neighbors. She completed high school in Boyne City, Michigan, attended Chicago Evangelical Institute, graduated from Central Michigan College, and completed her Masters in Education at Michigan State University.
Following WWII, she married the love of her life, Edwin O. Pearson. The bride’s grandfather, the Rev. Byron E. Belknap, officiated the wedding in Traverse City, Michigan. The newlyweds settled in Grand Rapids, where Mrs. Pearson continued her career in education, which spanned more than 30 years. She started as the only teacher in a one-room, K-8 school, where she was responsible for building the fire, carrying the water, and maintaining the building. She spent the majority of her career in the elementary grades. She supervised dozens of student teachers and completed teaching in a classroom which included students with vision, hearing and other physical impairments.
Mrs. Pearson was active in her church, teaching Bible classes to children and assisting with the youth. She was an avid golfer and traveler. Summer weekends were joyously spent with a stream of visitors to the family cottage at Silver Lake, Michigan. It was a wonderful place for many reunions and gatherings.
Following retirement, Marie and Ed enjoyed summers in Michigan and winters in Zephyrhills, Florida, where they were active in the Methodist Church. They moved to Maple Court in Tifton in 2003. Mrs. Pearson was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, two brothers and two sisters.
She is survived by three children, Elaine (James) Taylor of Tifton, GA, Dr. Robert (Elisabeth) Pearson of Durham, NC and Dr. Richard (Janet) Pearson of Charlottesville, VA; eight grandchildren, Dr. James "Shine" (Kate) Taylor of St. Petersburg, FL, Amy Taylor of Athens, GA, Sophie Pearson of San Francisco, CA, Jonathan Pearson of Los Angeles, CA, Emily Pearson of Raleigh, NC, Scott (Cynthia) Pearson of Charlotte, NC, Andrew (Tiffany) Pearson of Atlanta, GA and Karen Pearson (Benjamin) McKenzie of Atlanta, GA; and three great-grandchildren, Samuel Taylor and Cade and Jesse Pearson.
The family wishes to extend sincere appreciation for the kindness and care provided by Jennifer Gaskins, Virginia Brown, Teen Smith, Brenda Williams and Ardisell Virgil.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Tifton Meals on Wheels, P. O. Box 2053, Tifton, GA 31793.