Katie M. Lindquist

Katie Lindquist died at home on January 8, 2025, after battling cancer. She was born in Williamsburg, Virginia on June 13, 1941, the daughter of Elsie and Charles Mahone. After the death of her parents, she moved to Atlanta to live with relatives.

Katie graduated from Druid Hills High School in Decatur. She paid for her college education and graduated from Georgia State University with a degree in Political Science. She later earned a masters degree in education. Katie married Fred Lindquist, the love of her life, in August 1964.

After graduation, Katie began teaching high school in Dekalb County. Subsequently, she taught elementary school in the city of Atlanta for three years before deciding she preferred teaching high school. She spent the remainder of her career teaching at Booker T. Washington High School in Atlanta where she eventually became the Chair of the Social Studies Department. She embraced her love of history and political science through teaching and made a difference in the lives of hundreds of students over the years by making history come alive. Katie encouraged students to participate in Model UN competitions, accompanied students to Washington DC for the Close Up program, sponsored the National Honor Society, supported speakers to meet with students including Tuskegee Airmen and Atlanta Council Members, and took students on field trips to the Monastery in Conyers.

Even though she worked full time, Katie was active with the PTA organizations throughout her daughters’ education, volunteering for countless committees at the elementary, middle, and high schools, and eventually serving as the PTA co-president for North Fulton High School. Katie was active in the neighborhood garden club, including participating in the annual ice cream social. Katie and Fred were long time subscription holders for the Atlanta Symphony, the Alliance Theater, and the Roswell Theater. In addition, they were active in the Current Historians at the Atlanta History Center, as well as several plant societies, and they supported numerous historical societies. They enjoyed traveling and throughout their marriage visited 49 of the 50 states, most provinces in Canada, and 19 countries in Europe.

After retiring, Katie had time to pursue countless volunteer opportunities. Her love of flowers lead her to become a docent at the Atlanta Botanical Garden and she cherished every minute she spent in the Children’s Garden, at the Holiday Lights Display, and spending time with the Earth Goddess. She volunteered at the Children’s Methodist Home in Decatur and was an active member of the Altar Guild at PRUMC. Later in life, Katie fulfilled a longtime desire to become a member of the DAR.

Katie’s quiet, kind, and compassionate approach to every task she undertook made a lasting impact on those around her throughout her life. She never failed to volunteer to make brownies for school parties and fundraisers, and was always one of the first people to volunteer her time for each of the numerous organizations in which she participated. Throughout her life she made lasting friendships and experienced pleasure in spending time with those friends – celebrating their accomplishments and joys while sharing their sorrows as well. Katie’s quiet approach to life meant that she was not always aware of the impact she made to the lives of those around her. She set an example that her daughters and grandchildren strive to mirror on a daily basis.

Katie’s most important role in life was loving wife, mother, and grandmother. Katie’s survivors include Fred, her husband of 60 years, her daughters Karen Lindquist (widowed) and Leigh Lindquist (Ron), and her grandchildren Ella, Eric, Phillip, and Josephine.

Contributions may be made in Katie’s memory to the Atlanta Botanical Garden.

A memorial service will be held on February 1, 2025, at 1:00 PM, at Peachtree Road United Methodist Church, Atlanta.