Jan Elaine Mabry, 62, of Lavonia (formerly of Norcross), passed away May 6 after a battle with cancer.She was preceded in death by her parents,James H. and Henrietta Mabry of Lavonia, formerly of Warner Robins, and grandparents, Sophia Randall Maret and Karl E. Maret of Lavonia, and Mr. and Mrs. John Spencer Mabry of Buford.
Jan graduated from the University of Georgia in 1974, where she was only the second female student to graduate from the Warnell School of Forestry.She received her Masters of Science in Public Health and Disaster Management from Benedictine University.
She retired earlier this year from the CDC (Center for Disease Control) in Atlanta, GA where she had worked for the past fourteen years as a Microbiologist in the Influenza Department.She had fifteen additional years in research with Emory and the CDC.Jan was a member of the First Baptist Church of Lavonia.
She is survived by her brother, Spencer Maret Mabry of Highland Village, Texas; several aunts – Jo Nix of Hamilton, GA, Sue Maret, Lavonia, GA, Elaine Gibbs of Royston, GA, and Bette Cowles of Marietta, GA; and one Uncle -Charles Maret of Dalton, GA.She is also survived by nineteen first cousins, SusanMaret Painter of Dalton, GA;Marilyn LeCroy Poole of Athens, GA;PhyllisNix Johnson of Hamilton, GA;Marie LeCroy Garaventa of Manchester, CT; Mitch Maret of Dalton, GA;Karen Akin Dilworth of Royston, GA; Doug Akin of McDonough, GA; Lan Nix of Waxhaw, NC; Dee Maret of St. Petersburg, FL; Kathy Akin Gillespie of Greensboro, NC; Ross Maret of Dalton, GA; Sally Maret Williamson of Greenville, SC;Stacy Maret Schuessler of Opelika, AL; Scott Nix of Leesburg, GA; Vickie Gibbs of Raleigh, NC; David Maret of Raleigh, NC; Paige Maret of Dalton, GA; Mike Maret of Dalton, GA; and Diane Gibbs of Wilmer, AL.
Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 9, 2015 at Lavonia First Baptist Church with Dr. Larry Finger officiating. The family will receive friends at the church Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until the service. Flowers are optional or donations may be made to the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org), or Amedisys Hospice, 53 Rock Drive, Toccoa, GA 30577, or to the charity of your choice.