Mary Honiker

Mary Leila Honiker (94), passed away November 11, 2004, after a brief illness.  Born in Tampa, Florida, August 2, 1910 of parents Robert L. Honiker and Marian Harrison Honiker, she moved to Decatur, GA in 1932 and has been a resident since that time.  Mary Leila started working in the City Schools of Decatur in January of 1932.  She served as a teacher, Principal of Clairemont Elementary School, and Director of the Pupil Services Department.  She worked for the school system for 43 years before retiring in 1974.  Mary Leila served as Director of the Fritz Orr Camp for 15 summers.  She was a Charter Member of Delta Kappa Gamma, Lambda Chapter.  She participated in many professional organizations.  In addition, she was most active in Decatur as a member of the Decatur First United Methodist Church.  She was a lifelong member of the Paty Class.  Mary Leila worked for the establishment of Decatur Cooperative Ministry, started the first Decatur food pantry located in Decatur First United Methodist Church, which later became Decatur Emergency Assistance Ministry, and developed a pet ministry visiting nursing homes regularly with her dog, Buffy.  Community service was a part of her life and she was President of the DeKalb Community Council for the Aging; the DeKalb Community Council; the Decatur Georgia Association of Educators; and Decatur-DeKalb Association for Childhood Education.  Her community honored her in many ways including naming the Clairemont School Library after her; 1962 DeKalb Junior League Yearbook Dedication; 1993 Senior Citizen of the Year given by the Decatur Lions Club; 1994 Community Service Award given by Decatur-DeKalb Retired Teachers Association; 1995 Mary Leila Honiker Appreciation Day by Decatur Emergency Assistance Ministry; 1995 Mary Leila Honiker Day on May 2, 1995 by the City of Decatur; and recently the Mary Leila Honiker Student Assistance Fund was established by the Decatur Education Foundation, Inc.  Mary Leila loved life and people from all over this country and abroad. She traveled extensively and made close friends where ever she went.  She is survived by aunt, Ada Dean Sjostrom, Tucker, GA; niece, Elizabeth Honiker of Decatur, GA; and cousin, Arian Vick of Virginia.  Donations can be made to the Decatur First United Methodist Church, the Decatur Emergency Assistance Ministry, or the Mary Leila Honiker Student Assistance Fund, which is a part of the Decatur Educational Foundation.  Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 13, 2004 at the Decatur First United Methodist Church at 10:30 a.m. Services will be conducted by Bishop L. Bevel Jones. Interment will be immediately following in the City of Decatur Cemetery.  The Paty Sunday School class will serve as Honorary Escort. Visitation will be at A. S. Turner and Sons Funeral Home from 4-7 p.m. on Friday, November 12, 2004.