Mary Elizabeth Courtesy

Mary Elizabeth Vickers Law of Tiger, formerly of Mountain City, historian, politician and an accurate and keen resource on the people and culture of Rabun County, died Saturday, Feb. 28 at Stephens County Hospital after succumbing to the effects of a fall at her residence. She was 94 and a seventh-generation resident of Rabun.

Mary Elizabeth, called M.E. by many of her family and friends, was born Dec. 30, 1931, to Robert H. Vickers and Maggie Page Vickers who were living in the Warwoman Community at the time of her birth.

The Vickers family moved to Clayton about 1940, and Mary attended Clayton Elementary School and Rabun County High School where she graduated second in her class in 1948. She attended Piedmont College for two years and married Ted Law of Mountain City on Dec. 16, 1948.

In the 1950s, after her father was elected Judge of the Ordinary Court, effectively the sole commissioner of the county, she worked for him in is county courthouse office before leaving in the late 1950s to raise her family.

In 1963, Mary Elizabeth returned to the public work force as she was hired by the Georgia Power Company. She worked in the downtown office and also at the operations headquarters in Wolffork retiring in 1989 after 26 years of service. The nickname M.E. was taken from the name on her Georgia Power nameplate at her desk: M.E. Law.

In retirement, Mary Elizabeth became deeply involved with the Rabun County Historical Society and helped the organization to publish a number of books and publications. She played a key role in society getting a new building in Clayton that holds archives, a number of displays and a museum. She could be found working two days each week at the historical society up to 2018. The Rabun County Historical Society Museum is dedicated in her honor.

In 2004, Mary Elizabeth ran for and was elected to a seat on the county commission, the first woman in county history to do so. She served one term on the commission. She did not seek election to a second term.

Previously, she had been appointed to the Rabun County Planning Commission and served for eight years. She also served on the Rabun County Hospital Authority. Mary Elizabeth was a recipient of the Clayton Rotary Club's prestigious Wheel Award in recognition of her volunteer work.

She was an 89-year member of Clayton Baptist Church having joined the congregation at the age of 5. In the early 1960s, she and her husband served as church treasurers. She also taught a children's Sunday School Class.

She was the last surviving member of her immediate family having been pre-deceased by her parents, a half-brother Leon Bleckley, brother Henry Vickers and sisters Jessie Ruth Houck and Martha Ann (Polly) Davenport.

Survivors include her children Carol Turner of Clayton, Keith Law (Charlene) of Pendergrass and Tom Law (Karen) of Toccoa; grandchildren Casey Law of Atlanta, Marine Corps Col. Nicholas Law (Rebecca) of Dumfries, Va. currently assigned to the Pentagon, and Scott Law (Gracie) of Pickens, S.C.; four great-grandchildren, Candler, Emory, Willoughby and Hammond; a sister-in-law, Sarah Walch (Bob) of Arlington, Texas, a brother-in-law, Wayne Law (Joan) of Birmingham, Ala.; and a number of nieces and nephews.

Visitation and a memorial service will be held Saturday, March 7 at Beck Funeral Home, beginning at 1 p.m. The memorial service will begin at 2 p.m. The family will linger at the funeral home at the service to talk with friends and family.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Mary Elizabeth's honor should be sent to the Rabun County Historical Society, P.O. Box 921, Clayton, Ga. 30525 or dropped in person at the society museum located at 81 North Church St., Clayton, Ga.

Beck Funeral Home, in Clayton, Georgia, is in charge of the arrangements and is honored to serve the family of Mary Elizabeth Vickers Law. If there are any questions, please call 706-782-9599. An online Memorial Register Book is available at www.beckfuneralhome.com.

This announcement is courtesy of Acree-Davis Funeral Home and Crematory.