Mary Lou Conner

Mrs. Mary Lou Conner, age 95, of Dahlonega died Saturday, June 6, 2009, at her home in Dahlonega.
Mrs. Conner was born in Dahlonega Jan. 11, 1914. She was the daughter of the late Henry G. King and Sarah Louise Bridges King.
She graduated from Dahlonega High School in 1931 and later from North Georgia College. She did extra studies at Southern Teachers College.
Mary Lou was a charter member of the Retired Teachers Association of Lumpkin County and served two years as president from 1984 through 1987. She was also a member of the Lumpkin County Retired Educators Association. The Georgia Retired Educators Association presented Mrs. Conner Emeritus Membership on March 17, 2005, for distinguished service for retired educators of Georgia through contribution and participation in Georgia Retired Educators Association.
Mary Lou organized and directed for several years the first Summer Head Start Program in Lumpkin County. She taught math in Dahlonega Elementary School for 27 years. After retiring, she worked with Lanier Tech teaching Adult Education for 23 years. During this time many high school dropouts received diplomas.
In 1999, the mayor of Dahlonega presented Mary Lou Conner an award for 18 years of dedicated service to the Citizens of Dahlonega. She was honored for her service to the Dahlonega Historical Preservation Commission.
Mary Lou was a member of Dahlonega Baptist Church. She helped organize the T.E.L. Sunday school class and the Crab Tree Circle. She helped write the first history of the church which covered about the first hundred years. She served on various committees and boards but her most enjoyable 14 years was with the children's department as director.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Glenson Conner; her son, Glenn Douglas Conner; two brothers, Willie King and Carlton King; and two sisters, Estelle King Lee and Lois King Early.
She is survived by her sisters-in-law, Connie King and Lorine Conner, both of Dahlonega, and Grace Conner, Winchester, Va.; and as well as many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for Mrs. Conner are scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday, June 8, 2009, at the Dahlonega Baptist Church.
The Rev. Bill Hutcheson will officiate.
Interment will follow in Mount Hope Cemetery.
Mrs. Conner will lie in state at the church on Monday from 1:30 to 2 p.m.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Sunday from 3 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.
In lieu of flowers please make donations in Mary Lou's memory to Lumpkin County Literacy Coalition, 150B Johnson St., Dahlonega, GA 30533.
Banister Funeral Home of Dahlonega is in charge of the arrangements.