Maqry Ceylene Mcginnis

Ceylene Lawler McGinnis, 84, of Decatur, passed away peacefully in her home on Thursday, April 7, 2005. Ceylene was enveloped by the love of three generations of her family and her devoted dachshund, as her gentle and free spirit departed for a reunion with those gone before, and she was finally liberated from illness and pain. Born in Villa Rica in 1920, Ceylene took the best of the Old South of her youth and charged into the New South - an educated, cultured woman with a passion for knowledge, justice, travel, friends and family. Ceylene studied at both West Georgia College and the University of Georgia, where, in 1941, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Commerce. While there, she joined the Delta Delta Delta sorority, eventually becoming a Life Member and a member of the 1888 club. She also did graduate work at the University of Alabama in 1956, but never stopped learning; her mind was always open to new ideas, new people, and new adventures. During WWII, Ceylene worked at the Mitchell St., 10th St. and Little 5 Points branches of C&S bank. She served as the administrative assistant to Van Groover, vice president of personnel and occasionally as secretary to President Mills B. Lane. Her position there led to a friendship with author Margaret Mitchell. During the same period, Ceylene appeared as a chorus girl in a production of the opera Aida. Ceylene was a long-time member of the Center for Positive Aging, a downtown Atlanta agency providing services for senior citizens. She participated in their exercise classes, appearing in several workout videos produced by the Center. She was featured in a news story about the program, saying that exercising "makes me feel like I'm dancing, and I have not been able to dance for a long time". She also enjoyed the Center's Adventures in Learning classes that helped to satisfy her lifelong thirst for knowledge. Even her recent illness could not prevent Ceylene from being involved in senior care. She is soon to be featured in a magazine article about occupational therapy for the elderly, demonstrating ways for seniors to use common household items to increase their ability to remain independent. Ceylene loved traveling, and had visited most of Europe and the United States. When not traveling, she loved watching travelogues and studying foreign lands. She was always ready to learn or see something new. Since 1958, Ceylene had been a member of St. Mark United Methodist Church. She was a member of the Chapin Sunday School Class and was the Church Membership Secretary for several years. She was a great humanitarian, donating freely of her time and money to various charities. Her biggest adventure began in 1947 when she married W. S. McGinnis, her husband of 57 years, and started a family. She was a devoted mother and grandmother, caring for her grandchildren with the same love and affection that she lavished on her children. Her generosity was immortalized by the grandchildren, who dubbed her purse "the bank of Gram". Ceylene inherited a great sense of humor from her father. She always enjoyed a good joke, having fun, collecting frog related paraphernalia and gardening. She had a redhead's zest for life and adventure and a unique way of doing everything. Who else would try to jump a ditch in her Pinto wagon or crush pecans for cookies by driving over them? During her last hospitalization, she told her family that, "When you are in the hospital, you should always eat your dessert first, because you don't know if you will have time to finish the whole meal." There was never a wife, mother or grandmother quite like Ceylene. She was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas Jackson Lawler and Mary Nalley Lawler of Carrollton, Ga., and her siblings Rebecca Gilbert, of Carrollton, Ga. and James Lawler, of Castlerock, Co. She is survived by her husband, William S. McGinnis Sr., son William S. McGinnis Jr., grandson Phillip E. McGinnis and granddaughter Catherine M. McGinnis, all of Decatur, daughter Dr. Mary Joyce McGinnis of Schenectady, N.Y., siblings Edna Harris and Joyce Lawler of Carrollton, Ga., Dr. Jack Lawler of Columbus, Ga. and Carol Ann West of Gainesville, Ga., as well as many beloved nieces and nephews. Visitation will be on Sunday, April 10, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm. at A.S. Turner & Sons Funeral Home, 2773 North Decatur Road, Decatur, Ga. The funeral will follow at 3:00 pm in the Turner Chapel. In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to the Center for Positive Aging, 607 Peachtree Street, NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30308 (404) 872-9191.