Cathy Utley Hanson

Cathy Utley Hanson, 69, of Macon, Georgia, passed away peacefully on Monday, April 5, 2021. To celebrate Cathy’s remarkable life, family and friends are asked to gather for a graveside service on Saturday, April 10, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. at Macon Memorial Park, 3969 Mercer University Drive, Macon, Georgia. The funeral will be officiated by Associate Pastor Teresa Edwards, of Forest Hills United Methodist Church. The family requests that all attendees wear masks. The service will be livestreamed on Hart's Mortuary’s Facebook page.  

Cathy was born in Macon, Georgia, to Lynn and Margaret (McDaniel) Utley. She was the youngest of three daughters that included Marlyn Trawick (Harry) and Geonene Minshew. She and her sisters grew up on Huntington Road and the family attended Centenary United Methodist Church on College Avenue, where her father played the piano and sung in the choir. Her mother was a Girl Scout leader – and Cathy earned (and still has) many Brownie and Girl Scout pins and badges.  

She attended T.D. Tinsley Elementary School and A.L. Miller Junior and Senior High Schools, where she met many of her lifelong friends. Cathy worked tirelessly on every reunion of the “last class” of Miller and Lanier High Schools. Most recently, she served as an advisor to the committee for the 50th year reunion, which has been postponed until next spring.

Cathy raised and nurtured two daughters, who deeply love and admire her and who will always appreciate her goodness and hard work as a mother. She was a voracious reader and enjoyed playing board and card games with friends, hosting and attending parties, traveling in the U.S. and abroad, attending cultural events, and spending time with friends and family, especially her grandson. Her faith was important to her. She attended Forest Hills United Methodist Church, where she was part of the Seekers Sunday school class and served on the church’s finance committee. Cathy retired from Robins Financial Credit Union in 2020, after more than 30 years of helping people reach their goals. She had looked forward to spending time in retirement with family and friends, traveling, and rocking newborns at the hospital.  

She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Marlyn, and husband Russell. Those left to cherish her memory are her oldest daughter Staci Dixon and “her fellow” Mert Bardakci; youngest daughter, Cassie (Dixon) Smith and her husband Jon; grandson, Jacob Smith; sister, cousins, Hanson family members, and many friends old and new.  

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that donations may be made in her memory to one of the organizations she regularly supported, including Forest Hills UMC, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Ronald McDonald House Charities Central Georgia, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and United Way of Central Georgia. 

Please visit www.hartsmort.com to express condolences.  

Hart's Mortuary and Cremation Center at the Cupola, 6324 Peake Rd, Macon, GA 31210 has charge of the arrangements.  

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