Eleanor (Bootsie), a lifelong Atlanta native, was born February 13, 1935 to Louise Bright Downs and Tandy K. Downs. She graduated from Grady High School and attended the University of Georgia for a year before marrying her husband of 69 years and joining him in his service in the army overseas.
Throughout her life she was a dedicated homemaker, as well as making meaningful contributions to the community in her multiple roles at her church, responsibilities at her children’s schools, and also spent time delivering Meals on Wheels to some of the housebound. In addition, she provided active support of her husband’s commitments in a variety of civic and professional organizations.
In addition to many other talents, Bootsie had an avid interest in art, and developed her skill mostly in oil painting, creating bountiful portraits, as well as other meaningful works of art for much of her life. She was inducted into the National Portrait Society, and was a commissioned artist into her 80’s.
She was predeceased by her husband , James Franklin Callaham, Jr., her parents, and her son, Brian Downs Callaham, and is survived by her daughter Jennifer Callaham Ellis, son Kenneth Franklin Callaham and his wife Cindy Arend Callaham, eight grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at Haygood Memorial United Methodist Church on Friday, March 13th. There will be visitation between 12-1PM, with funeral services at 1PM. The service will be officiated by Senior Pastor Will Zant and Director of Pastoral Care and Outreach, Wally Rice. Interment will follow at Westview Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Haygood Memorial United Methodist Church, 1015 East Rock Springs Road NE, Atlanta, Ga. 30306.
