Mary Belle Klassett Wilkins, 101, died peacefully at home September 13, 2021. A third generation Atlantan, she was born November 26, 1919. She was the daughter of Paul Wesley and Katie Leach Klassett. Mary Belle married Thaddeus Dean Wilkins in 1938. They had three daughters, Cynthia Wilkins Rooker (Mrs. John Winston), Lynn Wilkins Hamilton (Mrs. Andrew Jackson), and Abigail Wilkins Babcock. Mary Belle, known as “Mimi” to family and friends, was grandmother to 9: Cynthia Robinson Fox (Mrs. William F. Jr.), Cater Robinson Carlton (Mrs. Christopher O.), John William Rooker (April Hardy), Spalding Rooker Ashley, Stewart Rooker Taylor (Mrs. Clarence H. III), Philip Luther Hildreth, Thaddeus Webster Hildreth (Susan Storey), Robert Lynn Hildreth (Sarah Bellamy), Mary Helen Marshall, Catherine Babcock Arsala (Mrs. John H.) and Rebecca Leigh Babcock. Mary Belle was also great-grandmother to 17 and great great grandmother to 1. Family was her highest priority and greatest joy which was abundantly clear across the generations. She enjoyed all the family gatherings where she was the life of the party.
Mary Belle was a member, volunteer and supporter of many endeavors including Shakerag Hounds, Florence Crittenton Home, Forward Arts Foundation, Michael Carlos Museum, Atlanta History Center, Atlanta Botanical Garden, Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School, Zoo Atlanta, Piedmont Hospital, the Smithsonian Society, and the Shepherd Spinal Center. She was instrumental in founding and organizing the Docent Program at The High Museum and served as First Chair. She was also a founder of the Phoenix Debutante Society and the Atlanta Steeplechase. While raising her girls, she held leadership roles in the PTA, Brownies and Girl Scouts. She was a longtime member of Peachtree Presbyterian Church. Mary Belle enjoyed golf and tennis at the Capital City Club and John’s Island Club and was a member of the Atlanta Women’s Golf Group. She played golf and tennis until she was 83. She continued to walk up to 5 miles a day into her nineties.
After raising her three daughters, Mary Belle spent 18 years in the international travel consulting business leading tours to more than 100 countries. In 1973, she was cited in Greece as a foreign ambassador for outstanding contribution in promoting the development of Greek tourism. During her tenure, she worked with and befriended Tensing Norgay, Sherpa to Sir Edmund Hillary, the first climber to summit Mt. Everest. Mary Belle was in the first group of American citizens to visit China in 1978 and among the first to tour Afghanistan, Bhutan, and Sikkim. She danced with dignitaries, met queens and kings, and rode camels and elephants. She loved safaris and had a hat covered with buttons and pins that the family loved to borrow. She brought back dolls for her grandchildren representing the many countries she visited. Mary Belle lost many friends who perished in the plane crash at Paris-Orly airport in 1964. She was scheduled to be on The High Museum trip but canceled due to her daughter’s graduation from college. In 1983, Mary Belle survived a bombing in Manila, Philippines where Ferdinand Marcos was the speaker. She canceled a return business trip from Europe on the Andrea Doria which collided with another ship and is one of history’s most infamous maritime disasters. She gave freely of her time and was unconditionally accepting of everyone she loved. Mary Belle credited her upbringing to her parents and grandparents instilling in her moral values, self-worth, love of family and desire to work hard.
The family is deeply grateful to Terri Evans, Joy Tobias and Sondra Charles for their loving and compassionate care. We also appreciate Home Care Assistance and Hospice Atlanta. Offerings in Mary Belle’s honor may be made to The Shepherd Center, 2020 Peachtree Road NW, Atlanta 30309, The Forward Arts Foundation, 3130 Slaton Drive, NW Atlanta 30305; First Presbyterian Church, 1328 Peachtree Rd NE Atlanta 30309, Peachtree Presbyterian Church, 3434 Roswell Rd., Atlanta 30305, and Crohns & Colitis Foundation, 120 Broadway Ste. 1050A NY, NY 10271.
Please join Mary Belle’s family and friends in a celebration of her life to be announced at a future date.
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