Yvonne Worley Randall

Yvonne Worley Randall, 87, lifetime resident of Cobb County, passed peacefully on Wednesday August 19, 2015 in the loving presence of her children, family and her lifetime love and husband of 64 years, Dr. Henry Randall, at Tranquility at Kennesaw Mountain Hospice. A Funeral Service will be held 2:00 pm Saturday at Mayes Ward-Dobbins Funeral Home in Marietta with Dr. Sam Matthews officiating. Yvonne was born on July 14, 1928 in Marietta Georgia on Whitlock Avenue, daughter of Clarence Grady Worley and Gladys Teem Worley. She graduated from Marietta High School and obtained her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from Emory University. She was immediately employed by the Emory School of Nursing as a clinical instructor. Yvonne championed the re-introduction of lactation education and encouraged new mothers to breast feed their babies. She was married in 1951 to Henry Randall. A loving and devoted wife, Yvonne was inspired by and dedicated to her children and family. A unique woman full of love and passion, she cherished learning to paint as a child from her mother. She postponed her artistic education until her youngest child began school, at which time she began studying oil portraiture with Roman and Constantine Chatov in Atlanta. She expanded her artistic education studying sculpture under Jay Holland at the Center for Creative Studies in Detroit, Michigan. In 1982, she attended a summer course in Cortona, Italy sponsored by the University of Georgia Art Department, where she learned to sculpt in marble. During her 40-year career as an artist, she produced an outstanding portfolio of figurative work in a variety of media including oil paintings, sketches, and bronze sculptures. Some of her most significant commissions were life-size bronze sculptures, one of which, “Stepping Stone”, resides at the Cobb County Public Library (Central Library) on Roswell Street in Marietta. Yvonne had a love of teaching, encouraging, and fostering developing artists. As a visionary, she played a vital role in the creation and development of new community organizations. In1959, inspired by her daughter’s experience in the kindergarten at Glenn Memorial Methodist Church, she returned to her hometown of Marietta and was instrumental in the founding of one the first kindergartens in the city at First Methodist Church. She joined in the effort to move and expand the Cobb County Youth Museum in 1970. In 1989, she was a leader in the founding and nurturing of the Marietta/Cobb Museum of Art. She was also a dedicated Girl Scout Troop Leader from 1965-1972 nurturing the same group of Girl Scouts from 6th-12th grade. Yvonne loved traveling and learning about cultures and people, usually with a sketch book in hand. She was known for her humor and wit and approaching life with enthusiasm and joy. She will forever be remembered as one who embraced the positive, shared her light and love with all, and always carried herself with humility and grace. She is survived by her husband Dr. Henry Randall, her five children, Susan Randall Forst, Rebecca Randall Nicholson, Alfred Henry Randall III, Mark Worley Randall, Thomas Kell Randall, 19 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. She will be joyfully reunited with her beloved parents and her siblings Dan, Patricia and Don. Family will receive friends 5:00 to 7:00 pm Friday at the funeral home. www.mayeswarddobbins.com 770-428-1511

Yvonne Worley Randall

July 14, 1928 - August 19, 2015