Muriel Halprin Nathan

Muriel Halprin Nathan was as comfortable digging in the dirt with her yard man as she was being the gracious hostess for governors, generals, or even a president. When Mrs. Nathan walked into a room, always elegantly dressed and coiffured, people gravitated to her.  A beauty queen in her college days, she maintained that striking appearance throughout her life. “She never met a stranger, and she loved people,” said her son-in-law, Lorry Schrage of Gainesville, Georgia. “Momma had a strong, forceful presence, but her quick smile put to ease anyone she met.” said her daughter, Sherrie Schrage. Her hospitality, generosity, and compassion were legendary, especially in Fort Valley, Georgia where she was born and lived most of her life, and then at Carlyle Place in Macon.

Mrs. Nathan and her husband, Dr. Daniel Everett Nathan, grew hundreds of camellias on more than two acres. Their garden was admired and attracted visitors and tours, especially during the camellias’ blooming season. Both were accredited judges in the American Camellia Society. They gave a teaching pavilion at the American Camellia Society’s headquarters at Massee Lane. The Nathan’s camellias graced the White House during President Jimmy Carter’s inauguration.

While she was thoroughly engaged in family and community activities, Mrs. Nathan did not neglect the ordinary tasks that mean so much to people – a kind word, a smile, a phone call, a card, or even a monetary gift when appropriate. When some unfortunate event occurred, she was quick to provide assistance. Until her death, she continued to remember friends and family on holidays and other life cycle events. She considered giving to others one of the greatest pleasures in her life.

Mrs. Nathan and her husband contributed to many worthwhile causes in Fort Valley, Middle and North Georgia. Their love of nature and flowers provided the impetus to give financial support to the creation of a garden and playground on Everett Square in Fort Valley. They also donated the clock in the downtown triangle in Fort Valley.  Their belief in the importance of education and good healthcare were instrumental in their creation of the first donor advised fund at the Fort Valley Community Foundation which became a part of the Community Foundation of Central Georgia.  Even after her husband’s death, Mrs. Nathan continued to be philanthropic. Giving gifts to the Northeast Georgia Medical Center and providing original artwork in the North Patient Tower in 2009, and a teaching center and demonstration kitchen for patients and families at the Woody Stewart Heart Failure Clinic which opened in 2016. Her gifts to the Ronald McDonald House in Macon and The Medical Center of Central Georgia furthered her goals of providing needed support for those less fortunate. In 2012 she established a scholarship at the Franklin School of Arts and Sciences at the University of Georgia for academically gifted but needy premedical students in their junior year to cover expenses for the Medical School Aptitude Test. She continued to support a scholarship at the Mercer Medical School in Macon for financially needy students. In 2012 Mrs. Nathan funded a classroom at the Smithgall Woodland Garden in Gainesville. In 2015 she and her children funded a meeting room and graduate study room at Brenau University Downtown Center, Gainesville.

Muriel Halprin Nathan was born March 4, 1922, in Fort Valley, Georgia, to Samuel Michael and Anna Chaves Halprin. Growing up in Fort Valley, she helped her father in his downtown general mercantile business, Halprin’s. She attended public schools and graduated from the University of Georgia in 1942 with a bachelor of Science degree in education. At the University of Georgia she was a member of Kappa Delta Phi Honorary Society and Delta Phi Epsilon Sorority.  Tau Epsilon Phi selected her as their fraternity sweetheart. When she was a 16 year old freshman at the University of Georgia, she met her future husband, Daniel “Dan” E. Nathan of Savannah. They married June 7, 1942, beginning 60 years of devotion until his death in February 2007.

During World War II when her husband was a flight surgeon in Italy she knitted and made bandages for the military. When he began his medical practice in Fort Valley, she became a competent office manager. She volunteered in the community filling leadership roles in the Peach Belt Medical Auxiliary, Town and County Garden Club, Thomas Public Library Auxiliary, Fort Valley Study Club, the Service League, and as a judge in the American Camellia Society.  In spite of all her activities, Mrs. Nathan eschewed being front and center preferring to be in the background assisting her husband. An avid Georgia Bulldog fan, Mrs. Nathan and Dr. Nathan took their children to football games every fall in Athens. They travelled as a family in the United States, Europe, Asia, South America, and Australia. Mrs. Nathan excelled in bridge and during her later years played weekly until her eyesight failed. She enjoyed musical performances, plays, and opera.

Health problems followed Mrs. Nathan much of her life, but her tenacity, selflessness, grace under stress, and positive attitude helped her through them. Until her health forced her to quit, she walked two to three miles daily before such exercise was popular. She said that was her time with God, and as gregarious as she was, she enjoyed time alone. She continued to drive past 90. Mrs. Nathan refused to complain no matter how debilitating her setbacks were. “This, too, shall pass,” she would say, and she would move on. “She accepted what life brough her and made the best of it,” said her son, David.  She was not bitter, she said “life is too short to waste a precious moment.” “She has been a role model for all of us,” said her daughter-in-law, Joan. Mrs. Nathan once said that she wanted no funeral and no obituary. She said that if people didn’t know her by the time she had lived her life, that was fine; and those who knew her needed no obituary or eulogy to remind them of who she was.

Muriel Halprin Nathan died on February 22, 2025. At her request, services will be private. The family will receive friends at the Grande Ballroom at Carlyle Place from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 26, 2025.

Donations may be made to your favorite charity.

Please visit www.hartsmort.com to express condolences.

Hart’s on Cherry Street, Hart's Mortuary and Cremation Center, 765 Cherry Street, Macon, GA 31201 has charge of the arrangements.