Carol Speir

1940 - 2017

SPEIR (Griffiths), Carol Carol Griffiths Speir was born in Middleton, New York on May 24, 1940. She passed away on December 1, 2017. A loving mother and grandmother, Carol was passionately involved in the activities of her daughter, her grandchildren and her extended family. Carol loved going to her grandchildren's events, helping them with school, and she was always a positive presence in their lives. She enjoyed life and was very active; bird watching, gardening, shopping, traveling and playing bridge. Carol was very faithful in God. She was a member of St. Catherine's Of Sienna Catholic Church, she participated in Perpetual Adoration, and she frequently provided communion to homebound church members. Carol was also an active member in her education sorority, Delta Kappa Gamma, and she treasured the time and activities with all her teacher friends. Carol graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in French from Barry University in Miami, Florida and later obtained a master's degree in French from Georgia State University. She began her teaching career in the public schools in Miami, Florida and later moved to Atlanta, Georgia. She was a devoted French and Latin high school teacher for over 30 years for the Fulton County Board of Education in Georgia. Carol was very devoted to her career and was loved by her students and fellow teachers. She was department chair of the high school Foreign Language Department for many years and was also Star Teacher and Teacher of the Year. Carol brought great joy and the love of learning to all her students. After retirement she taught French in an online program. Afterwards, she taught French and future teachers of foreign language at Kennesaw State University. Carol is survived by her loving daughter, Mary Bowman and her husband Glenn, her brother, Robert Griffiths and his wife Lilly, and her two grandchildren, Olivia Bowman and Jeremy Bowman, from Marietta, Georgia. She is also survived by her cousins Diana Essbach and her husband George from Rutherford, New Jersey, MaryAnn Connor from Binghamton, New York, Tommy Griffiths from New York, and Carolyn Griffiths from Rutherford, New Jersey. The family will receive friends on Sunday, December 10, 2017 from 6:00 - 8:00pm at H. M. Patterson and Son - Canton Hill Funeral Home located at 1157 Old Canton Rd., Marietta, Georgia, 30068. A requiem mass celebrating her life will be held the following day on Monday, December 11, 2017 at 10:00 am at St. Catherine's of Sienna Catholic Church located at 1618 Ben King Rd., Kennesaw, Georgia, 30144. The burial will follow at Arlington Memorial Park 201 Mt. Vernon Highway N.W., Sandy Springs, Georgia, 30328. Please give a donation to the American Glaucoma Society instead of flowers.