Catherine Telford

Catherine Johnson Telford passed away on Monday, May 30, 2011, at the age of 92. She was born in Zingara, Georgia, on March 21, 1919, the daughter of the late Roy Lee Johnson and Rosalie Gilbert Johnson of Lawrenceville, GA, where she grew up. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Education from Georgia State College for Women in June, 1940.

After her marriage to James Harvey Telford, Jr., (Jim) of Cleveland, Georgia, in June of 1941, they moved to Gainesville where they lived their sixty-eight years of marriage. Catherine worked for the state of Georgia Welfare Department from 1941 through 1945. In 1960, she became a faculty member at Brenau College where she continued until her retirement in 1973.

Catherine loved her church and community and served them both as an active leader and volunteer. She was a faithful member of First United Methodist Church, having served through the years in many leadership areas including: member of the Board of Trustees, Vice-Chairman of the Official Board and President of the United Methodist Women. She was a charter member and past president of the Open Door Sunday School Class, a member of the Building Committee and served her church teaching Sunday School, organizing the church nursery and introducing the Chrismon Tree. She and her husband served as Communion Stewards for thirty years. In the community, she was a member of the Junior Service League, a charter member and active participant in the Twentieth Century Study Club and the Dogwood Garden Club and was a leader of the Girl Scouts of America for ten years. She was an active member of the Northeast Georgia Medical Center Hospital Auxiliary, serving as President of the Executive Board, Chairman of the Junior Gray Ladies, Candy Striper liason and co-founder, along with her husband, of the Lifeline Program.

Catherine also loved and treasured her family. She is survived by two daughters, Anne Telford Parr of Atlanta and Rosalyn Telford Kendall (Bob) of Jacksonville; ten grandchildren: Stephen Parr, Kevin Parr, Allan Parr, Robert Kendall, James Kendall, Daniel Kendall, Catherine Kendall, Aaron Kendall, Anna Kendall and Grace Kendall and seventeen great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jim, in November, 2009, and by her brother, Doyle Johnson of Lawrenceville.

A memorial service of worship will be held in the Chapel of Gainesville First United Methodist Church on Saturday, June 4, 2011, at 11:00am. Following the service, the family will greet friends in the Reception Hall at the church. The burial will be at Alta Vista Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to First United Methodist Church, 2780 Thompson Bridge Road, Gainesville, GA 30506.

Little and Davenport Funeral Home, 355 Dawsonville Hwy, is in charge of the arrangements.