Cathy Ann (Cheatham) Tucker

Cathy Ann Cheatham Tucker of Acworth, Georgia, completed her earthly life on June 21, 2026 at the age of 71. The only child of Oliver Cheatham and Earline Yancey Cheatham, she was born on December 5, 1954. She grew up in Smyrna, Georgia and moved to Marietta, Georgia while in high school; she graduated from Wills High School in 1972. Cathy earned an Associate in Science from Kennesaw Junior College (1977), a Bachelor of Science in Education from West Georgia College (1978), a Master of Education from Berry College (1987), and a Specialist Degree in Leadership from Lincoln Memorial University (2003).

Cathy learned how much she loved teaching after starting her teaching career at Emerson Elementary in Emerson, Georgia. Then, she taught at Norton Park Elementary in Smyrna. After a few years, she transferred to Garrison Mill Elementary, where she completed her thirty-year teaching career. She loved her students, and they loved Mrs. Tucker. This appreciation was evident in the many sweet letters that Cathy treasured from students and parents thanking her for being such a wonderful teacher and making a difference in their lives.

As much as Cathy loved teaching, her life’s most important focus was family and friends. She maintained lifelong friendships from childhood and always kept her family close. Cathy loved to travel and traveled extensively with her parents during their retirement years; she was blessed to see some wonderful parts of the world. When her mother became ill, Cathy took care of her in every way possible for many years. She was a nurturer and caregiver at heart. To be in the same room as Cathy was to be in a room with a welcoming smile and soul.

As an early member of the Old Retired Educators Eating Out (OREOs), Cathy loved the regular get-togethers with her retired teaching friends. She enjoyed long phone conversations and long lunches with family and friends, and she loved going to the theatre. As an animal lover, Cathy had dogs most of her life, including Holly and Lexi; more recently, she adopted a cat, Sophie, who became a quiet and loving companion just before her illness. In August of 2025, Cathy had a stroke. Despite the many challenges, she never lost her infusive smile or her great sense of humor.

Cathy was preceded in death by her beloved parents, Oliver Cheatham and Earline Yancey Cheatham; paternal grandparents, Virgil Cheatham and Maude Lackey Cheatham; maternal grandparents, Albert and Cleo Yancey; aunts Sarah Lou Jordan (James), Maxie Head (Carol), and Mildred Yancey; uncles Bill Cheatham (Mary), Gene Cheatham (Joyce), Ottis Cheatham (Anne), Earl Yancey (Jean), Harvey Yancey (Blanche), and Thurman Yancey; and cousins Charlotte Jordan Walker (Ken), Jim Jordan, and several other cousins in the Yancey family. She is survived by cousins Hellen Brown (Dennis), Betsy Griffin (Danny—deceased), Sheril Keeler (Ned—deceased), Karen Baumbach (Fred), Tony Cheatham (Michael), Valerie Adams (David), Tommy Cheatham (Jill), Deborah Yancey Decker, Daphne Yancey Graham, and Donna Yancey.

The family will receive friends on Friday, July 10th from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Winkenhofer Pine Ridge Funeral Home, 2950 North Cobb Parkway, Kennesaw, GA 30152. The funeral service will follow in the chapel at 12 p.m. Internment will immediately follow the service at Pine Ridge Memorial Park (same address). In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Calvary Children’s Home of Powder Springs, Georgia and the Cobb County Humane Society.

Visitation will be held at Winkenhofer Pine Ridge Funeral Home, 2950 North Cobb Pkwy, Kennesaw, GA 30152, US, on July 10, 2026, from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm.

A Funeral Service will take place at Winkenhofer Pine Ridge Funeral Home, 2950 North Cobb Pkwy, Kennesaw, GA 30152, US, on July 10, 2026, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm, followed by a Committal Service at Winkenhofer Pine Ridge Funeral Home, 2950 North Cobb Pkwy, Kennesaw, GA 30152, US, from 1:00 pm to 1:30 pm.

A Reception Following The Service will be held at Pine Ridge Memorial Park, Reception Cottage, 2950 Cobb Parkway North, Kennesaw, Georgia 30152, on July 10, 2026, from 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm.