Sally Ann Ross

Sally was born in Coshocton, Ohio on February 15,1949 to Glenn and Mary (Triplitt) Hudson. Her surviving family includes her sisters, Susan Hudson, Dover, OH, and Shelly Bowden (Johnny) Panama City Beach, FL. Sally’s two nieces, Mary Allcorn of Winnsboro, SC, and Lacey Miller (Richard) of Indianapolis, IN, were bright stars in Sally’s life. She adored visits with Lacey’s children, Killian, Madalyn, and Liam. Sally was married to Rex Ross for 22 years before his death in 2010.

The outpouring of love for Sally knows no boundaries as she easily made friends in the USA and abroad. These friendships were formed through her relationship with people who shared her love of traveling (especially to her beloved Scotland), her retirement hobby of photography, her enjoyment of playing a round of golf, her involvement as a Charter Member of Oconee Presbyterian Church, her brilliant teaching career, her interest in politics, her dedication to many non-profit organizations, and her love for her extended family, friends, and neighbors.

Sally had an endless thirst for knowledge, service, and travel. She spent 10 years as a public school educator, primarily as a high school English teacher in Ohio and Georgia. This experience provided the insights and impetus for her later career at the University of Georgia. She served 17 years as a faculty member in the Department of Language and Literacy in the Mary Frances Early College of Education.

Throughout her career, Sally focused on writing instruction, teacher collaboration, student-centered instruction, and partnerships between K-12 and University faculty in reforming teacher preparation. From 1994-2004, Sally and her colleagues recruited public HS teachers as mentors to teacher candidates to co-create a year-long English Education program (UGA-Network of English Teachers & Students) that privileged classroom research and collaboration between experienced and novice teachers. In 1999, Sally was awarded the Hill Award, the University’s highest award in public service in recognition of her outreach work in English Education. Across her career at UGA, she authored and secured state and federal grants.

Following Sally’s retirement, she began involving herself in various community organizations. One of the first was as a member, and then, as President, of the Athens Art Association. Her art has always been as a skilled photographer. That interest drew her to the Athens Photography Guild where she sought to learn new techniques and improve her skills. Sally’s photography emerged both from her travels as well as from her passion for bringing new life to familiar locations near home in Athens, Oconee County and across Georgia.

Sally commented that she “loved the adventure of walking freely outdoors, and I crave powerful and unique light…With my camera, I savor and record forever the experience: the feelings, colors, textures and shapes that somehow combine to bring peace.” As a result, “she could appreciate this world and her life even more.” Sally’s work has appeared in juried exhibitions, galleries and public art spaces across Georgia. She was a featured artist in the February 2010 issue of Southern Distinction Magazine. She has sold her photos throughout Georgia.

In 2017 she and a small group of friends began a circle called the Living Room Group where women were introduced to area non-profit organizations and assisted in selecting those that best suited their interests. That led her to joining Georgia Indivisible District 10. Her talent for writing made this an especially fitting group. She not only participated in meetings and activities, she also regularly wrote letters and articles to state and local representatives sharing her perspectives, as well as those of many fellow community members.

Sally has always worried about those that struggle to thrive in our society. In answer to her concerns, she joined the Athens Area Homeless Shelter Board where she enthusiastically worked to improve the shelter itself and the quality of daily life for its clients. Most recently, Sally joined Athens Immigrant Rights Coalition (AIRC) and was an avid member of the Drivers Pool where she volunteered to give rides to community members that may not have access to transportation.

Sally has also been an important volunteer at Oconee Presbyterian Church, serving as an Elder and participating as a member of various teams including Congregational Care and the Care and Prayer Team. She established an OPC Walking Group that continues to meet every Tuesday and walks at places such as The Botanical Gardens, Oconee Veterans Park, and the Thomas Preserve and was always quick to include others who were not involved with the church. Her work with the Northeast Georgia Presbytery included serving on a committee that mentored Minister candidates in Georgia and South Carolina. In many ways Sally cultivated community at her beloved church.

Sally loved golfing! She and Rex were longtime members of Monroe Country Club and later, the Jennings Mill Country Club. She played competitive golf with the Eagles Greens Golf Group, the Northeast Georgia Women’s Golf Association, and the Georgia Senior Women’s Golf Association. Brora, her home away from home in Scotland, welcomed her each year for months-long visits, and she became a tournament winner at many summer events at the Brora Golf Course. The day after Sally died, her Scottish friends lowered their country club flag to half-mast.

Sally’s support for community-building wasn’t confined to Georgia. Sally was a globe trotter whose expansive personality forged lasting friendships easily. Sally’s international travel buddies recall trips to Switzerland, England, Italy, Greece, Africa, Croatia, Egypt, France, China, Mexico, Argentina, Panama—and in each of these places, Sally studied the people and cultures with her inexhaustible curiosity, prompting her to explore their history, food, architecture and customs. She was truly an ambassador around the world, spreading good will and kindness.

A memorial service will be held Thursday, May 14, 2026, at 11:00 AM at Oconee Presbyterian Church, 2601 Hog Mountain Road, Watkinsville, GA. A reception will follow. The Memorial Service will be posted on YouTube. (Oconee Presbyterian Church youtube.com)

Sally will be buried alongside Rex in South Lawn Cemetery, Coshocton, OH on Monday, May 18, 2026. Given-Dawson-Paisley Funeral Home is serving the family.

In lieu of flowers, Sally requested that donations be made in her name to the following organizations: Oconee Presbyterian Church (PO Box 1377, Watkinsville, GA 30677 or Give Now onrealm.org); Doctors Without Borders USA, Inc. [email protected]; and the American Civil Liberties Union www.aclu.org

An online memorial can be viewed at www.given-dawson-paisleyfh.com.