Crystobel Calhoun Malmquist

Crystobel Calhoun came into this world on February 18th, 1928, and departed Sunday, July 7th, 2024, after having left her impressions of beauty all around. She loved all those around her. She delighted in her children and her grandchildren. She was always so proud of the accomplishments of her children and all her nieces and nephews. Her brothers and sisters were her world and preceeded her - Estelle, Ethel, Odell, Lewis, Sidney, Sanford, Mamie and Nell.

Crystobel Calhoun Malmquist, was the next to the youngest of nine children born to Sidney Stringer Calhoun and Cora O’Connor Calhoun of Vidalia, Georgia. Early in Crystobel’s life, her family lived on the family farm in the Kibbee Community of Montgomery County, Georgia. A pioneer family, the Calhouns were early settlers in the area and farmed cotton, tobacco and corn - which gave Crystobel the knowledge and talent to be an expert gardener. She cultivated and grew peach trees, which were her pride and joy. Her banana pudding was known by many and always a comfort to those in need.

In the mid-fifties, Crystobel met her childrens’ father, John Milton Grubbs, Jr., through an introduction of his mother, Carmen Grubbs, at the Biltmore Hotel in Atlanta. A hair designer, (having trained under C. Anthony at the Virginia Ferrell Academy in Detroit), Crystobel was a platform model and Carmen was eager for Crystobel to meet her son. It wasn’t long before Milton was taking Crystobel to Vidalia to say her goodbyes to her parents and marry him in Calhoun, Georgia.

Crystobel thrived in business and as the wife of an attorney, having become a charter member of the Cobb County Bar Auxiliary. Through the Auxiliary, Crystobel shared her love of entertaining and sharing the finest in food and decorating even having flown in orchids from Hawaii for a Law Day Dinner event. All things beautiful were her passion. Crystobel was also a member of the Honeysuckle Garden Club in Marietta and enjoyed arranging flowers and won many, many tri-color ribbons for her efforts.

Also in the 50’s, Crystobel was a co-founder of LenChrisAnn School of Charm and Modeling and she enjoyed teaching women of all walks of life and helped train several Miss Georgias. She also was a founder of Marietta University of Cosmetology and Hair Design, Inc., and loved to teach.

In her later years, Crystobel married Arthur W. Malmquist of Bradenton, Florida. Together they enjoyed social events, travel and spending time together with family. While in Bradenton, Crystobel was a dedicated member of First Baptist Church of Bradenton, Florida. With her sister, Estelle, they worked diligently in providing hospitality at the Church. Crystobel also thoroughly enjoyed the annual Passion Play and her then role as Mother Mary.

With such a large family, Crystobel was the oldest and longest surviving of her immediate family at the age of 96. She is survived by her daughter, Salleigh Grubbs, sons Nicholas and his wife Maggie and their son, Noah, Cristopher and his fiancé Rebekkah, son, John Milton Grubbs, III, his wife Kathy Hawk Grubbs, their three children, John IV, Emily Smith and her husband Brad, their three children Charlotte, Olivia and Cooper, and Jennifer and her fiancé Tristen Crow. Also daughter-in-law, Beverly Malmquist and children Eric Malmquist, and his wife Julia, Kitten and her husband David Riggins, and their children.

Crystobel was very proud of all her nieces and nephews, surviving her siblings are their children, Jack and Aleda Calhoun, Robert and Janet Calhoun, Sonny and Marilyn Calhoun, Katherine Tallini, Myot and Bea Akins, Barbara and Larry Phillips, Joan and Mark Pinter, Susan and Paul Lescenski, Brenda and Jokey Stanley, Judy Trout, Sandra and Tony Brawner.

Funeral services will be 1:30 PM Thursday, July 11th in the Chapel of First Baptist Church 180 Church Street Marietta, GA with Rev. Brandon Owen and Rev. Barry Lancaster officiating. Crystobel will be interred at Kennesaw Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends 5 - 7:00 PM Wednesday at Mayes Ward-Dobbins Funeral Home and 12:30 - 1:25 PM Thursday at the church.