Madelyn Mercer Worrill

Mrs. Worrill died January 26, 2010, at the age of 70, following a three-year bout with colon cancer. She died peacefully at her home in Marietta, with her family and loved ones nearby. Memorial service for Mrs. Worrill will be jointly held with those of her mother, Mrs. Kathryn Mercer 11:00 a.m. Monday, February 1, 2010 at First Baptist Church of Marietta in the main sanctuary with Rev. David M. Jones, Dr. Bill Ross, Rev. James Auton and Dr. Don Parker officiating. Mrs. Worrill was born Madelyn Bowen Mercer in Champaign, Illinois, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mahlon Berton Mercer. Her family moved to Atlanta, Georgia from Kokomo, Indiana, in 1947, when her father assumed the position of Minister of Music at Second-Ponce de Leon Baptist Church. She, her mother and brother, Stephen, remained valued members of that congregation following Mr. Mercer’s untimely death in 1949. Madelyn was active in all the regular activities of the church and sang in the choir. She graduated from Bass High School in Atlanta, and attended Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. For a period of time prior to her marriage to Mr. Jack R. Worrill in 1959, Madelyn, or Lyn as she came to be called, also served as secretary to the Associate Pastor and Minister of Music at Second-Ponce de Leon. Following their marriage, the couple lived in Greenwood, South Carolina, where their first daughter, Lauri Jalyn was born. They moved back to the Atlanta area in 1961 when Mr. Worrill went into the Direct Mail business with his father at Fred Worrill Advertising. Their family was blessed with two more daughters, Martha Kathryn and Abigail Leigh. Lyn had many interests in addition to being a loving mother and homemaker. She was a member of Atlanta’s Junior Associates organization, was active in the Parent and Teachers Associations of her children’s schools, and worked with children’s and youth activities at her home church. She also loved ballet and for many years, while her daughters studied dance with the Ruth Mitchell Dance Studio she was an active volunteer. In 1985, she and her husband and youngest daughter moved to Marietta, Georgia. When she moved her church membership to Marietta First Baptist Church, Lyn once again took active part, singing for a time in the choir and serving as Director of one of the Adult Sunday School departments. During this time in Marietta, she also worked in Food Service for two of the city’s larger churches. Yielding to her love for plants and flowers, Lyn later worked as a department manager for a Pike Family Nursery in Marietta until her illness caused her to retire in 2007. Mrs. Worrill is survived by her husband, Mr. Jack R. Worrill, three daughters and their husbands, Mr. and Mrs. Mark (Lauri) Biggs, Mr. and Mrs. Joel (MaKay) Swanson, all of Marietta, and Mr. and Mrs. Bill (Abby) Shetler of Woodstock; her brother and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Stephen B. (Karen) Mercer, his daughter and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. Martin (Christen) Pruett; eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made for the development and improvement of the Wellstar Cancer Center Memorial Garden in the name of Madelyn M. Worrill. Those contributions may be sent to the Wellstar Foundation, 200 South Park Place, Atlanta, GA 30339. Family will receive friends of Mrs. Worrill and her mother, Kathryn Mercer from 2:00-4:00 p.m. and 6:00-8:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 31st at Mayes Ward-Dobbins Funeral Home and Crematory in Marietta. www.mayeswarddobbins.com

Madelyn Mercer Worrill

January 29, 2010