Martha (Ann) Chafin, age 90, of Dahlonega, GA, passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 17, 2022, surrounded by her family. Ann was born in Mableton, GA, on May 12, 1931. Ann grew up on Mable Street. She was the daughter of James A. Jordan and Nellie White Jordan. Ann had an older brother Roy and a younger sister Berta Marie Jordan. She attended Mableton High School. Ann excelled in academics, loved music, and played on the girl's basketball team for five years. She was an active member of Mableton 1 st Baptist Church Youth for Christ. On Sundays after church, she and her sister Berta and brother-in-law Allen Martin would sing Christian songs on the local radio station and even cut their own record.
On August 2, 1947, she married Earle Winfred Chafin Sr. of Atlanta, GA. She was a loving wife and mother. Between the years of 1948 and 1957, Ann and Earle welcomed three children into the family. Earle Winfred Jr. (1948), Debra (1951), and Terry (1957).
The family lived in Atlanta, Georgia, until 1954. Then they moved to Mableton and lived there until 1970. They were active members of Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church. Ann taught Sunday School and loved teaching the 11 and 12-year-old girls. She also taught VBS and sang in the church choir for many years. Ann was very active in the school PTA and volunteered wherever she was needed. She also was a Girl Scout Brownie leader when her daughter was a Brownie. Ann encouraged her children to participate in sports, and they attended every game. She could be heard shouting out encouragement from the stands. Piano lessons were mandatory too, and each of her children learned to play. In addition, she made sure her children attended Sunday School and church every week.
The family moved to Dahlonega in 1970. Earle transferred with The Atlanta Gas Light Co. They immediately joined Dahlonega Baptist Church and were faithful members.
While living in Dahlonega, Ann worked for Harold Long Medical clinic for ten years. She would often say she gave most of the shots to the children of Dahlonega. She loved meeting the families that came to the clinic, and it seemed like she knew everybody in Dahlonega. Ann could not go anywhere in town without running into someone she knew. A short shopping trip to the grocery store often turned into several hours because she would run into people she knew in nearly every aisle and would stop to chat. After retiring, she worked in Home Health Care and did some substitute teaching at the elementary school.
Ann was very active at Dahlonega Baptist Church. She was a member for 53 years. She loved to cook and would help cook Wednesday night meals. She sang in the church choir and taught in VBS. She especially loved preparing snacks for the children and adults during VBS. She would invite her grandchildren to spend the week of VBS with her every summer so they could attend VBS with her. After her husband Earle retired, they both enjoyed participating and traveling with the church's senior citizens. Earle drove the church bus and took them on many trips.
Ann loved life. Time spent with her family and friends meant everything to her. She never met a stranger and made friends wherever she went. She loved to cook and share her delicious desserts with friends and family. Ann made Peanut Butter goodies and Blueberry Yum-Yum to take to family gatherings. She made sure that everyone had a copy of her favorite recipes. Her husband Earle would grow a large garden every summer. She would spend her days cooking, canning, and freezing vegetables. The sweet aroma of fresh vegetables cooking would linger in the kitchen's air, and everyone loved to eat at her table. She also loved to sew and was an excellent seamstress. She made her daughter's clothes when she was young and taught her how to sew. Ann also loved making little dresses for her granddaughters too. She loved to sing and taught her children and grandchildren many songs, including "I love you a Bushel and a Peck." She encouraged her grandchildren to play music and gave many of them an electric keyboard. She also had a passion for genealogy and spent years researching family history. She left behind numerous copies to be given out to the family, as well as old pictures of ancestors.
Of herself, she left us with this: "Tell all my family and friends and loved ones that I loved them, and my wishes are that they will include Christ in all their lives. To do unto others as you would have them do unto you. The Lord said he would not put more on you than you can handle. I have been in church since I was three years old and became a Christian when I was eleven years old and have been in church ever since. My favorite bible verse is, 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.' Philippians 4:13. The Lord has blessed me in many ways".
Ann was preceded in death by her parents and her loving husband of 61 years, Earle; brother Roy (Jane) Jordan; sister Berta (Allen) Martin; son Terry Chafin; son-in-law Danny Powell; great-granddaughter Lily Powell; and grandson-in-law Kelvin Pittman.
Ann is survived by her son, Winfred Chafin and wife Andrea; daughter Debra Knight and husband David; daughter-in-law Sonja Chafin; grandchildren Casey Brown and husband Gary, Jeff Craig and wife Jessica, Timothy Powell and wife Jennifer, Katie Grimes and husband Alan, Windy Croft and husband Tommy, Teri Pittman, Kerie Brewer and husband Tyler, Megan Boschert and husband Ryan, Jesse Chafin; plus twenty great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family would like to express their deep appreciation for the love and care given by Angie Walker (Ann's niece) of Pruitt Hospice and special friend Doris Ivester.
Visitation will be held at the Anderson-Underwood Funeral Home in Dahlonega on Friday, March 25, 2022, from 6 to 8 PM. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 26, 2022, at 10:00 AM at Dahlonega Baptist Church, with the Rev. Bill Hutcheson and the Rev. Calvin Chatham officiating. Interment will follow at 3:00 PM in West View Cemetery in Atlanta.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Dahlonega Baptist Church VBS refreshment fund in memory of Ann Chafin.
To share a memory of Ann or a condolence with the family, visit andersonunderwood.com.
Anderson-Underwood Funeral Home, 2068 Hwy. 19 North, Dahlonega, GA 30533.
