Eugenia Deaton

The family of Eugenia Deaton (Mrs. Hubert J. Deaton, Jr.) is saddened to announce her passing after a brief illness. She died in Gainesville, GA at 90 years of age.

Genie was born in 1927 in Greenville, MS to the late Alice (Cato) and Eugene Weissinger. She was preceded in death by sisters Corrine and Iola Weissinger, and by brother William Weissinger. She moved to Gainesville in 1943 and attended Gainesville High School, class of 1945, where she was a cheerleader and played women’s basketball; holding the ladies’ single game scoring record for many years. There, she met Hubert, class of 1944, the love of her life.

Upon graduation, she attended the University of Georgia as a physics major and was initiated into Alpha Gamma Delta sorority. Upon Hubert’s return from serving in the Navy, they made plans to marry, and eloped on March 8, 1947. From this moment on Genie made her family her sole priority, raising five children and caring for her parents, a sister, and her husband. She loved babies without reservation and treated each addition to the family as celebration.  

She was an active ‘Alpha Gam’ alumna, a member of bridge clubs until the last year of her life, and a loyal United Methodist; belonging to Gainesville First United Methodist Church. She was raised in a tradition of ‘Southern Hospitality’, and was an excellent cook and hostess. With her great good friend, Mary Jo Powell, she co-authored two successful cookbooks.

Genie is remembered with profound love and admiration by her husband of more than 70 years, Hubert; her children and their spouses Hubert III and Karen (Betts) Deaton of Great Falls, VA; Dell (Deaton) and husband Donnie Whitehead of Athens, GA; Miller and Tric (Kay) of Lancaster, SC; A.K.’Tinky’ (Deaton) and husband M.C. ’Butch’ Bowling of Gainesville, GA; and Ann (Deaton) Medlock, also of Gainesville; grandchildren Elisabeth Deaton, Evangeline Keller, Larissa Barrett, Alice Herndon, Donald Whitehead, Matt Deaton, Patrick Deaton, Clara Reed, Trey Bowling, and Jack Medlock; great-grandchildren Anastasia Keller; Wyatt and Lily Herndon; Wesley and Eli Whitehead; Deaton and Gaines Reed; and Armor Deaton; her surviving sisters Emelyn (Mr. Jack) Lilley and Ouida (Mr. Paul) Felker; as well as nieces, nephews and cousins.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 13, at 3:00 PM in the chapel at Gainesville First United Methodist Church. The family will receive friends in the reception hall after the service.   

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Eagle Ranch, 5500 Union Church Road, Flowery Branch, Georgia 30542, Hospice of Northeast GA Medical Center, 2150 Limestone Parkway, Gainesville, Georgia 30501, or to the Gainesville First United Methodist Church, 2780 Thompson Bridge Road, Gainesville, Georgia 30501..

Condolences can be made online at www.memorialparkfuneralhomes.com or at Memorial Park North Riverside Chapel. Memorial Park North Riverside Chapel, 989 Riverside Drive, Gainesville, Georgia 30501. 770-297-6200.