Esther Ransom Husser

Esther Margaret Ransom was born on December 9, 1947, to Josephine “Jo” Reagan and J. Walter “Buck” Ransom in Rome, Georgia. The middle of five children, she was raised among Ransom Floral Co., First Baptist Church of Rome, the neighborhood of Charlton Road, and Coosa Country Club, all of which instilled in her a sense of loyalty, hard work, kindness, and warmth that she took wherever she went. She was blessed with a magnetic smile.

Esther graduated from West Rome High School in 1965, where she was Student Body President, a majorette, and Homecoming Queen. She graduated from the University of Georgia in 1969, where she was active in Greek life, including serving as president of Kappa Alpha Theta and as a member of the Panhellenic Council. She represented UGA on the Southeastern Panhellenic Council, served on the UGA Student Government Cultural Affairs Council, was the Kappa Alpha Fraternity Rose, and was named to Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges in 1969. She earned a BS degree in elementary education.

Following graduation, Esther took the job of a lifetime as a flight attendant for Pan American Airlines. Based in Washington, D.C., and working the London and Paris routes, flying for Pan Am showed her the beauty of the world, nurtured a love of travel, and introduced her to countless friends, including the love of her life, John Husser. While flying, she was part of the crew on the plane that picked up the Apollo 13 astronauts in Hawaii following their rescue in 1970. In 1972, she accompanied President Richard Nixon as part of the flight staff on his historic trip to China. Upon her return, she wed John in April 1972, and they moved to San Francisco. She enjoyed San Francisco, especially spending time with dear friends Patti and Charlie Dullea and working for Saks Fifth Avenue in Union Square.

In 1974, Esther and John moved to Sacramento, where John pursued his law degree and they welcomed two daughters. In 1978, they moved to John’s hometown of Salinas, California, where Esther enjoyed raising her girls, welcomed her son, and was involved in the Junior League of Monterey County and the Camp Fire Girls organization. As was typical of Esther, she made lifelong friends and shared her Southern charm with all she encountered.

In 1982, Esther and John moved to Cedartown, Georgia. Esther started her teaching career at the United Methodist Preschool, then taught at Westside Elementary School for nearly two decades and inspired generations of children in Cedartown. During her career, she served on the Georgia State Board of Education’s textbook board and was named Polk County Teacher of the Year in 1990 and 2003. Esther was awarded a 2007 President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation from the USA Freedom Corps for her commitment to strengthen the nation through volunteer service. Esther was a member of the Cedartown Service League, where she helped with numerous Cedar Valley Arts & Crafts Festivals and the Cedartown Follies.

After retiring from teaching, she volunteered with CASA and Ferst Readers, a program focused on strengthening early childhood literacy. In 2008, she welcomed the first of six grandchildren and enjoyed going to elementary school Fall Festivals, Grandparents’ Day celebrations, school plays, dance recitals, ball games, regattas, soccer games, and gymnastics meets in Raleigh, Nashville, and Rome. She cherished family trips to Seaside, Florida, with her sisters and their children and grandchildren, a tradition that began 40 years ago and continues today.

Esther was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, John Walter Ransom, Jr.; her sister, Reagan Ransom Coker; her nephew, Grady Walter Coker; her brother-in-law James Ronald Husser, and her in-laws, Dr. Horace F. and Aline Scott Husser.

She is survived by her husband of fifty-four years, John; her children, Elizabeth “Bess” Redmond Husser Creech (Zeke) of Raleigh, North Carolina, Mary Katherine Husser Simmons (Earle) of Nashville, Tennessee, and John Scott Husser, Jr. (Sarah) of Rome; her beloved grandchildren, Katherine Ayden Hollingsworth “Katie Worth” Creech and Elizabeth Redmond Ransom Creech of Raleigh, North Carolina, Margaret Aline Simmons and Corinne Chapin Simmons of Nashville, Tennessee, and Helen Robbins Husser and John “Jack” Scott Husser III of Rome; her sisters, Linda Ransom James (Ed) of Atlanta and Elizabeth Ransom Bosworth (George) of Rome; her cousins, Satyra Summerour Howell (John) of Birmingham, Alabama and the Reverand Toby Summerour (Carroll) of Lake Toxaway, North Carolina; Robert Sidney Ransom, Jr. of Atlanta and Jospeh Griffin Ransom (Dottie) of Sandy Springs, Georgia; her sisters-in-law, Maureen Husser Lavengood (Wayne) and Marilyn Husser Stream (Allen) of Salinas, California; her many adored nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews; the fabulous Theta “Eight;” her West Rome High School alumni group; and her lifelong friends from Rome and Cedartown.

The family would like to thank her caretaker Angel Morgan, the staff of Atrium Floyd at Four Central, the incredible, compassionate care of Dacia Shackelford and Beth Phillips at Heyman Hospice, and the entire team Highlands Senior Living.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making memorial donations to Cancer Navigators either via www.cancernavigators.org or mail donations to 3 Central Plaza #415, Rome, Georgia 30161, CASA of Polk & Haralson www.polkharalsoncasa.org or Heyman Hospice online or mail to 420 E 2nd Ave #103, Rome, GA 30161.

A memorial service will be held at the First Baptist Church of Rome on Monday, October 12 at 2 pm; a Celebration of Life will follow from 3 – 5 pm at Broad & Fifth, 436 Broad Street, Rome, Georgia.

Daniel's Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted in the services for Mrs. Esther Ransom Husser.