Cathy Louise Camp

If “Humor is mankind’s greatest blessing,” as Mark Twain famously said, then the loved ones of Cathy Louise Camp were the most blessed of all. The beloved mother, sister, aunt and wife died on August 8th in Atlanta. She was 71. Cathy was born in Jackson, Tennessee on July 11, 1945 to Ada Louise and A.B. Camp. She graduated from Jackson High School in 1963 and went on to attend Lambuth University. Cathy was a dedicated employee of BellSouth for 27 years, rising up the ranks of the telecommunications company, but her true passions were in arts and comedy. She was a well known and exquisitely talented jewelry artist, selling her designs at Raiford Gallery in Roswell, Georgia. As a regular cut up for family and friends, Cathy took her comedic talents to center stage at the Punchline, bringing the house down with her stand up act. She continued to be the funniest person in the room at every family gathering and dinner party, not only serving up her famous jokes, but also her legendary cornbread and butterbeans. Cathy is predeceased by the love of her life, David Nachman, and her niece, Cynthia C. Futrell. She is survived by her son, John-Patrick McChesney and his girlfriend, Parker Wallace; her sister, Geneele Crenshaw and husband Archie Crenshaw; her late niece’s children, Court Futrell, Casey Kappas, Chelsea Deans and Chase Futrell; her niece Candace Crenshaw and her daughter, Tori Vadeboncoeur; her niece Cissy Watson and husband Ted Watson, and their children, Hunt Watson, Alexandria Watson and Jessica Watson; her aunts, Edna Earle Rice and Mabel Temple; her cousin Jack Camp and his wife Sandra. A celebration of Cathy’s life, love and laughter will be held at the family’s estate, Gracewood, in Bishop, Georgia on Sunday, August 14th. In lieu of flowers, donations may be offered to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.