Marilyn Gay Braselton

Marilyn Gay (nee Hannah) Braselton, 79, of Suwanee, GA passed away April 18 after a brief illness.

Gay was born in Buford, GA, August 30, 1933, graduated from Buford High School and received a BA in Physical Education from North Georgia College in 1953. After college she married her lifelong love and childhood sweetheart, James Franklin (Jim) Braselton, and began a teaching career (PE and English) at Rehoboth Junior High in Atlanta, then on to Campbell High School in Smyrna, GA, where she coached an undefeated girls basketball team. Gay took several years off from teaching to be an active, fun and dedicated mother to her three children, Holly, Vali and Mitch. In 1979 she returned to teaching P.E. at Sugar Hill Elementary, Buford, GA, where she was known as "Mrs. B" by the hundreds of students who attended. She loved them all as if they were her own kids. She retired from the Gwinnett County School System after 19 years. Gay loved music and was enthusiastically involved in church choirs throughout her life, often performing as a soloist. In retirement she loved traveling, spending time with her husband, children, grandchildren, and many lifelong and new-found friends, winning at Scrabble and RummiKub, and singing and touring with the Silvertones for the First Baptist Church of Buford. Gay was always ready to hit the road to Biloxi, Las Vegas, Hawaii, the beach, or anywhere else her friends and family dreamed up. Gay's joyous spirit and generous heart will be missed by the many friends and family members whose lives she touched. Gay was predeceased by her parents Zelma Roberta (Scheerer) Hannah and William Harold Hannah and her husband, Jim. She is survived by her children Holly (Don) Price, Vali Braselton and Mitch (Marcy) Braselton; grandchildren Erin and Julie Price and James and Jackie Braselton; and great-grandson Nathan Lee.

A memorial service and celebration of her life will be held on Sunday, April 21, 2013 at 2:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Buford with Rev. Wayne Johnson officiating. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Saturday from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials requested to Agape Hospice Care Inc., 5825 Glenridge Dr., Bldg 4, Suite 200, Atlanta, GA 30328, www.agapehospicecare.net or Alzheimer's Association, PO Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-6011, www.alz.org.

To express condolences, please sign our online guest book at www.flaniganfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements by: Junior E. Flanigan of Flanigan Funeral Home and Crematory, Buford, GA, 770-932-1133.