KATE ELLIOTT
TRENTON, GA: Mrs. Kate Felker Elliott passed away on Sunday, April 28, 2013. She was born on December 19, 1913 in Boyds Creek, Tennessee, Sevier County and lived in Trenton, Georgia for many years. Kate was the last surviving member of her family to live in the historic home in Boyds Creek.
Mrs. Elliott was a member of the Georgia Teacher Hall of Fame and taught for 42 years in the Dade County School System. Her love of English and French started at Sevier County High School. She received a B.A. degree from East Tennessee State University and an M.A. degree from Peabody College of Vanderbilt. She taught English and French in Dade County Schools for 43 years.
Civic, religious and other activities included church clerk and treasurer of Woodlawn Baptist Church and clerk and treasurer of the Lookout Valley Baptist Association. Kate and her husband, Henry, were founding member of Woodlawn Baptist Church. She taught Sunday School, Training Union, and Vacation Bible School at Woodlawn for forty years and also directed church plays, pageants and speaker tournaments.
She was also active in PTA work and served as a 4-H leader. Acting as senior sponsor at Davis High, Dade High and Northwest Georgia High was one of the joys of her life. She was a Beta club sponsor for 25 years. She was also a yearbook sponsor for several years; the yearbook was dedicated to her in 1969.
During her entire teaching career, she was consistent and active member of NEA, GAE, DEA, Delta Kappa Gamma, and the Georgia and National Council of Teachers of English.
Among honors and awards received were the following: 1967 STAR Teacher; 1972 Outstanding Secondary Educator of America; 1973 Dade County Teacher of the Year; 1975 Lions Club Citizen of the Month Award; 1977 Northwest Georgia High Teacher of the Year; 1982 Lions Club Award for Community Service.
Kate was recognized throughout her teaching career for being an outstanding teacher. In 1982 she was given the highest honor when she received the “Teacher Hall of Fame Award: for Dade County Schools for the years of 1941-1983. She was also awarded Georgia’s “Teacher of the Year” that same year, and her plague can be found today in the Georgia Capital Building in Atlanta.
Kate was a loving wife, mother and teacher. She impacted the lives of untold numbers of Dade County children in a most positive way, through her teaching and example of character. She will be sorely missed by the many people whose lives she touched.
Kate is survived by her daughter, Lana Elliott Freeland and son-in-law, Thomas Harry Freeland, as well as step-grandchildren, Peter Freeland, Purcellville, VA and Andrew Freeland, Birmingham, AL. She also leaves behind a wealth of caring relatives, friends and former students.
Special thanks go to Sandra Coppinger, Maezelle Russell, Hospice of Chattanooga and Avalon Hospice for the wonderful care they gave her.
Kate was preceded in death by her parents, Walter Stevens Felker and Lucy McCrosky Felker and her loving husband Henry.
Funeral services will be held in her memory 11:00 AM Wednesday May 1, 2013 in the Chapel of Moore Funeral Home. Interment will be held in Lake Hills Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be held Tuesday 5:00 PM ~ 9:00 PM
In lieu of flowers, Memorial Donations may be made to her and Henry’s much loved Dade County Public Library, 102 Court Street, Trenton, GA 30752
Please leave your memories and prayers at
www.moorefuneralhometrenton.com
Arrangements by Moore Funeral Home, Trenton, Georgia.