Mrs. Cathryn Julia Jarrell Cheek

Cathryn Julia Jarrell Cheek, died Monday, July 30, 2012, at Spring Harbor in Columbus, GA. Funeral Services will be held at Union United Methodist Church, Butler, GA, on Wednesday, August 1, 2012 at 3:00 P.M. with burial to follow in the church cemetery. The Rev. Dennis Stalvey and the Rev. Mark Sasser will officiate. Her grandsons, Steven Floyd Speyer, William McLeod McIntosh, Jr., Dr. Hugh James Cheek, Arthur James Cheek, Lawrence Palmer Houchins, and Darrell Jay Thaw, Jr., and great grandson, Jack William Speyer, will serve as pallbearers.

Visitation will be at Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, Columbus, Georgia, Tuesday, July 31, 2012, from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.

Visitation will be at Union United Methodist Church, Butler, GA, Wednesday, August 1, 2012, from 2:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M.

Born in Butler, GA on January 31, 1915, Mrs. Cheek was the daughter of the late Floyd Cannon Jarrell and Mary McCants Jarrell. Educated in Butler, she was an outstanding basketball player and student. Well known as a gracious and generous Southern lady, Mrs. Cheek enjoyed hosting family and friends in her home. She constantly shared her gift of arranging flowers and devoted her life to caring for and serving others. Mrs. Cheek was a master cook, and family and friends still yearn for her heavenly divinity candy. She delighted in driving. She traveled to all 50 states, Europe, and the Holy Land.

Cathryn Cheek was a life-long member of Union United Methodist Church, a person of deep faith, and a devoted servant leader. She served in local and district offices of the United Methodist Women. She was president of the Butler Garden Club for 25 years and was president of the American Legion Auxiliary. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the United Daughters of the Confederacy. Mrs. Cheek was an ardent environmentalist and worked diligently to enhance and protect the beauty of God’s earth.

Mrs. Cheek was predeceased by her parents; her beloved husband of 51 years, Hugh Giles Cheek; her brothers, Thelmon, Polk, Gorman, Fred, Arthur, and Dr. Harold Jarrell; sisters, Hazel Jarrell and Marie Jarrell McGlaun; and her son-in-law, Millard B. Shepherd.

She is survived by her loving and devoted children: Mary Luna Cheek Speyer Shepherd, Swainsboro, GA; Katrina Cheek McIntosh (Bill), Moultrie, GA; Dr. Benjamin Hugh Cheek (Dr. Kathryn Cheek), Columbus, GA; grandchildren: Steven Floyd Speyer (Julie), Madison, GA; William McLeod McIntosh, Jr., Oxford, MS; Cathryn McIntosh Houchins (Palmer), Atlanta, GA; Dr. Hugh James Cheek (Morgan), Birmingham, AL; Holly Cheek Thaw (Jay), Atlanta, GA; and Arthur James Cheek, Oxford, MS; and great-grandchildren, Cathryn Anne Speyer and Jack William Speyer, Madison, GA. She is also survived by her brother, Dr. Floyd C. Jarrell, Jr., Columbus, GA; sisters-in-law, Estelle Spinks Jarrell and Mrs. Harold (Corinne Betts) Jarrell, Butler, GA; a brother-in-law, Dequindre McGlaun, Junction City, GA; and a host of dear nieces, nephews, and great and great-great nieces and nephews, all of whom loved and cherished their Aunt Cathryn.

Her independent spirit, love and enthusiasm for life, appreciation of beauty, and profound devotion to others endeared her to and inspired all who knew her. The family is grateful to the caregivers at Spring Harbor and our private duty helpers for their professional care, support, and love. They, her friends, and family, will always remember her calling them her “precious angels.” Mrs. Cheek’s precious angels are now embracing her in heaven.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any desired memorial be made to Union United Methodist Church in care of Fred S. Jarrell, Jr., 376 West Old Wire Rd., Butler, GA, 31006. Condolences may be expressed at www.shcolumbus.com.