Barbara Tellalian

BARBARA TELLALIAN (MRS. T), 78, of Loganville passed away on Sept. 6, 2004 after a long illness. She was known affectionately as "Mrs. T" to scores of students of Atlanta Dance Works, a prominent local school of dance that she was affiliated with for over two decades. Born Varvara Ellian in New York on November, 19, 1925, she grew up in the Washington Heights section of Manhattan during the Depression. In 1947, she married World War II veteran Jack G. Tellalian, to whom she devoted her life. In 1950, they migrated to Miami where they lived a colorful life amidst the city's world-famous and glamorous beachfront social scene. In 1978, they moved to Stone Mountain, where she began her career at Dance Works and later co-founded a retail offshoot called Dance Works Plus, which sold dancewear, exercise wear and gifts items. Barbara was a talented painter, a voracious reader, a movie fan and avid theatergoer. She loved performing and appeared in everything from a Broadway revue in the 1940s to movies and PTA talent shows in the 1970s. In spite of failing health, Mrs. T still managed to take her annual Caribbean cruise this past spring and continued to forward humorous e-mails to friends and family until the day she died. Proud of her love of the arts and prouder still of her Armenian heritage, Barbara was devoted to her family and friends who will miss her laughter, love, generosity and beautiful smile. She is survived by children Bunny Wardlaw and son-in-law Ben of Alpharetta, Jacqueline Tellalian of Manhattan, Christina Tellalian of Washington, D.C., Gary Tellalian of Los Angeles; Grandchildren Peter Wardlaw and wife Kathy of Marietta, Sarah Jones and husband Bobby of Athens; Great-grandchildren Andrew and Sarah Jane Wardlaw; sister Aghavni Ellian of Manhattan; brother Haig Ellian and wife Sue of Chevy Chase, MD, nephew Levon Ellian; her beloved cat Elvis and many other friends and relatives. Internment will be at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, DC on Sept. 20th at 9AM, Rev. V. Kalayjian presiding. Barbara's family invites friends to celebrate her life at a memorial service at Vines Botanical Gardens in Loganville on Friday, Sept. 17th at 7 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the New York Armenian Home in Flushing, NY and the American Diabetes Association. A. S. Turner & Sons