Elizabeth Mounts Rutherford (Beth)

After a fight with colon cancer and chronic lymphocytic leukemia, Elizabeth Mounts Rutherford (Beth) passed away on December 7, 2015. She was born July 22, 1946 in Trenton, NJ as the daughter of William Stewart Mounts, Sr. and Carolyn Hillig Mounts and older sister to Dr. William Stewart Mounts, Jr. of Saint Simmons Island, GA and Peter Jonathan Mounts of Atlanta, GA. A service to celebrate her life will be at H.M. Patterson & Son Arlington Chapel in Sandy Springs on Saturday, December 12 at 11:00am. Following the memorial the family will receive friends at a reception that will also take place at the funeral home. Beth was a 1968 graduate of the University of Georgia (UGA). It was there she met her future husband, Kirby Rutherford of Atlanta, GA. Immediately after UGA, Beth began her career working for the Social Security Administration; however, she quickly became a full-time mother and community leader. Her involvement in the community spanned several cities and initiatives, including becoming an active volunteer and advocate of the American Cancer Society in Athens, GA and in Warner Robins, GA. She also helped lead the establishment of the local Arts Council in Fitzgerald, GA and the Literacy Council in Toccoa, GA. During that same time, Beth also helped start two Communities In Schools programs; one in Fitzgerald, GA and the other in Toccoa, GA. In due time, Beth reentered the workforce within both the Fitzgerald and Stephens County School Systems where she last served as head of Human Resources. Subsequently, Beth became Project Director for Pioneer RESA in Cleveland, GA, where she ended her professional career. Beth is preceded in death by her parents, Bill and Carolyn. She is survived by her loving husband Kirby and their children, Allison Rutherford Luton of Atlanta, GA, Patrick Kirby Rutherford of Atlanta, GA, and Rebecca Rutherford Briggs of Sugar Hill, GA and son-in-law’s Shawn Luton and Chris Briggs. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to either the American Cancer Society at donate.cancer.org or by mail: American Cancer Society P.O. Box 22478 Oklahoma City, OK 73123 or to Communities in Schools of Georgia online at communitiesinschools.org or by mail: Communities In Schools of Georgia 260 Peachtree Street, Suite 700 Atlanta, GA 30303.