Rosemary Strother

Macon- Rosemary Baker Strother, loving wife, mother and teacher, passed away on March 8, 2010 in Macon, GA. Born on July 8, 1919 in Savannah, she was the daughter of Clarence Edwin Baker, Sr. and Carrye Keller Baker and was raised in Savannah, Waynesboro and Valdosta. She attended Valdosta High School and graduated from Georgia State Woman's College. She subsequently attended graduate school at the University of Georgia and was awarded a Master's Degree in Zoology. She later taught at Bessie Tift College in Forsyth and Washington Seminary in Atlanta. During World War II, she worked as a technician at the Fourth Service Command Medical Laboratory and in the Malarial Control Unit, now part of the CDC. After the war, she married George F. Strother, Jr. and moved to Athens where she taught Biology at Athens High School. She later served as chairman of the Science Department at Cedar Shoals High School. She was awarded a Science Foundation Scholarship for a year of study at UGA where she received a Scientist Specialist Award. She also served as an area representative for the Biological Science Curriculum Study. In 1968 she was selected the outstanding Biology teacher for Georgia and the Southeast by the National Association of Biology Teachers. Religion was always a very important part of Rosemary's life. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Athens where she taught Sunday School for 20 years, was circle chairman, a communion steward and on the committee on evangelism. After moving to Macon, she became a member of Mulberry Street United Methodist Church. Other community activities included the Salvation Army, DAR, Junior League of Athens and the Wednesday Study Club. She was predeceased by her husband of 49 years, George F. Strother, Jr. of Athens; sister, Margaret Virginia Baker of Valdosta; brothers, Clarence E. Baker of Columbus, GA. and Howard F. Baker of McDonough, GA and grandson, James Clinton Baker of Reno, NV. She is survived by daughters, Caroline Asikainen and Dan of Reno, NV and Rosemary Spiegel and John of Macon, GA; grandchildren, Greer Crisp Thompson and Jason of Macon, GA, Camilla Rosemary Baker of San Francisco, CA and John Albert Spiegel and Audrey Keller Spiegel of Macon; great-grandchildren, Hendley, Harrison and Reed Thompson of Macon, GA; brother and sisters-in-law, Mary Baker of McDonough, Anne Baker of Columbus, GA and Elizabeth and Dillard Hawkins of Arnoldsville, GA; nieces and nephews, Mary Nouri and Jim Hawkins of Athens, GA, Bill Hawkins and Susan of Snellville, Gordon Baker of McDonough, Mike Baker of Columbus, GA and Ginny Gerrity of Winston-Salem, NC. Services will be held on Friday, March 12, 2010 at 11:30AM in the Chapel at Athens First United Methodist Church, Athens, GA with the Reverend Grady Wigley officiating. Burial will be private. The family will greet friends on Wednesday, March 10, 2010 from 5:00PM until 7:00PM at 132 Bentwood Circle. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Salvation Army, United Hospice or a charity of the donor's choice. Register online at www.hartsmort.com. Hart's Mortuary and Crematory, Cherry Street, has charge of arrangements.