Mrs. Mary C. Cranston

On December 27, 2024, Mary Frances Cranston (nee Coggin) passed away at Kennestone Hospital after a long, rich, and happy life. She was the beloved wife of the late Robert L. Cranston, Sr, who pre-deceased her in 2006. Also, the loving mother of Dyan and late husband Mike Woodall, and Robert L Cranston, Jr and wife Mary Lee Neville, devoted grandmother of Alisha Woodard and husband Jeff and cherished great-grandmother of Nolan and Maeson Woodard.

Mrs. Cranston was born September 5, 1934, in Newnan, Georgia to Mary Abilene McKoy and Raymond Davis Coggin. She was raised in rural Coweta County by her mother and stepfather, George Phillips, amongst the large, extended McKoy family. She graduated from Newnan High School in 1952. While working at the Bonnell factory in Newnan, she met the love of her life, her future husband, Robert Cranston. They married on December 21, 1956, and moved to Marietta, Ga. She worked at the Dobbins Air Force Base PX/Commissary for a few years before starting her family in 1959.

As a wife and mother, Mrs Cranston took great pleasure in supporting her family in many ways. Foremost were her legendary meals for Thanksgiving (the best turkey, dressing and dumplings), the KMart store picnics, the McKoy family reunions, and the Car Club holiday parties. Everyday meals were made special by fresh vegetables from her own garden and secret recipes like her delicious Brunswick Stew. Each birthday was marked by favorite cakes, such as German Chocolate (for Dyan) or Fresh Coconut (for Bobby). She supported her two children in all their homework and activities, including guiding them in earning scouting merit badges, working the concession stands at the Little League games, supporting her daughter's modeling school activities by helping her with hair, make-up, and wardrobe alterations, and supporting their marching band fund raisers by selling Indian River Fruit. She was a long-time Atlanta Braves fan and greatly enjoyed the family outings to the Atlanta Fulton County stadium to watch the games and feast on homemade barbecue sandwiches.

As her children grew, she continued to help them in many ways. While volunteering for Cobb County's services for the blind, she became aware of Georgia Tech's computer programing project for people with disabilities which helped launch her son's 30+ year career in the Information Technology profession. She worked for her daughter's small business by doing invoicing and paperwork, and then would spend countless hours with her granddaughter, Alisha, who learnt many life lessons from her cherished grandmother, including how to cook many favorite family recipes.

Mrs. Cranston was a huge country music fan of the Grand Old Opry and enjoyed listening to artists such as Johnny Cash, Porter Wagner, Tammy Wynette, and Hank Williams. Her favorite recording artist was Allan Jackson and delighted in the fact that he was from her hometown of Newnan. She also spent many enjoyable hours visiting with her neighbors, discussing local news events like murder mysteries and figuring out ‘who dunit’ from the clues. In light of this, her long-time friend Bobbye Jean dubbed her ‘Sherlock’.

Family will receive friends at Georgia Memorial Park, 2000 Cobb Parkway SE, Marietta, GA 30060 on Tuesday, December 31st from 9:30-10:00 AM with service at 10:00 AM in the Chapel. Interment Georgia Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to American Heart Association. Simply click the name under the donations tab and you will be taken directly to their website.

Special thanks to the many people who helped support Mrs. Cranston in the final years of her life, most especially the Care Partners at Carriage Crossing (Bonnie!); support staff, Care Partners, nurses, and Physicians Assistants at Roselane Nursing Center (Ann, Melissa, Paul, and Jennifer), and the nursing and care partners at Kennestone Hospital (E.D. and Green 7 North!)