Julie Lancaster Hartness

A virtual chapel service for Julie will be held Monday, February 1, 2021, 11:00 am at Winkenhofer Pine Ridge Funeral Home, 2950 Cobb Pkwy NW, Kennesaw, Georgia 30152. A private burial will follow at Georgia Memorial Park in Marietta.

Julie was born September 27, 1923 in Eatonton, Georgia to John Lancaster and Lilla Newman Lancaster. She grew up in Eatonton and moved to Atlanta for employment. An athlete, she played for the Atlanta Sports Arena Blues Women’s amateur basketball team that won the Lady’s Amateur World Championship. Through a teammate, she met the love of her life, Edd Hartness, a professional baseball player. They married and together raised a family of three children, six grandchildren and nine great grandchildren and counting.

Julie loved her family, her church, and her garden. She spent many enjoyable hours working in her garden and its bounty was often found in the fresh food on her table and the fresh flowers decorating her home.

Julie loved her church because it represented her God. She was faithful in attendance and contributed her time, talents, and resources generously. She taught Adult Sunday School, regularly attended Bible study and was a role model for all, especially the youth, who she mentored as a Sunday School teacher, MYF leader, 4-H leader, basketball coach, and general confidant.

Julie’s children and grandchildren will enthusiastically certify that she was the World’s Best Homemaker. She relished those relationships and somehow always found a way to take private time with each, so they all felt special. Daughter-in-laws quickly became daughters and sons-in-law, sons, equal to her own children. She taught them old fashioned virtues and values. She had a big heart and reveled in others’ successes and grieved their failures. She was firm when she needed to be, but always in a nurturing way. She brightened the lives of all who knew her and made them all a little bit better.

Julie is survived by daughter Gail Hartness West; son Eddie Hartness (Ann); and son Hal Hartness; grandchild Erin Hartness Medlyn (Drew); grandchild Russell Hartness (Lane); grandchild Heather Hartness Gabbard (Justin); grandchild Josh Hartness, grandchild Blake West; grandchild Matthew West; great grandchild Elizabeth Medlyn; great grandchild Fisher Medlyn; great grandchild William Medlyn; great grandchild Haley Grace Hartness; great grandchild Lyla Kate Hartness; great grandchild Anna James Hartness; great grandchild Hayden Gabbard; great grandchild Jordan Gabbard and great grandchild Reagan Gabbard.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Julie’s memory may be made to Kennesaw United Methodist Church, 1801 Ben King Rd, Kennesaw, Georgia 30144, or to your favorite charity.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at: www.winkenhoferpineridgefuneralhome.com for the Hartness family.