Katherine Elizabeth “Beth” Perry Lunsford
Katherine Elizabeth “Beth” Perry Lunsford died Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2012.
She was born September 10, 1950 in Macon, the daughter of Edwin F. Perry Jr. and Julianne McDaniel Perry.
She grew up in the Kelly community of Jasper County and was a member of Calvary United Methodist Church of Shady Dale. She was preceded in death by her father, Edwin Perry and brother, Don Perry.
Mrs. Lunsford was a 1968 graduate of Monticello High School. She graduated from Georgia Southwestern with a bachelor of science in elementary education, a masters in early childhood education, and a specialist degree in media education from West Georgia College. She was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority and also a member of Alpha Delta Kappa teacher sorority.
Mrs. Lunsford was a member of Dalton First Methodist Church, the Abundant Life Sunday school class, and Thursday morning Bible study.
She taught 35 years, 29 of those in a school library setting. She was a member of the faculty at Southland Academy in Americus for 11 years. For 24 years she worked in Dalton Public Schools at City Park and Westwood. She was honored to be selected as teacher of the year in 1994 for City Park.
She was also named Foundation Teacher by Dalton Education Foundation in 2002 and was a member of the Cox Leadership Class.
She was named as the Dalton Daily News Citizen of the Week in 2005 for Encouraging the Love of Reading. Mrs. Lunsford was Teacher of the Year in 2006 for Westwood and was named Dalton Public School’s Teacher of the Year for 2006-2007. A diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma ended her teaching career in 2008.
Survivors include her husband of 39 years James D. Lunsford, Jr., daughter Lisa Lunsford Williams of Clermont, and son Daniel Lunsford of Dalton, three grandsons Ran, Miles, and Daley Williams of Clermont; sisters Jan Perry Bolubasz of Cincinnati, OH and Julie Perry Patterson of Beaufort, S.C., and brother Steve Perry of Eatonton; her mother, Julianne McDaniel Perry of Dalton, and numerous other relatives and inlaws.
A memorial service was held October 13, 2012 at the Dalton First United Methodist Church with Dr. Robin Lindsey officiating. Internment was in the church columbarium.
Memorial contributions are requested to Dalton First United Methodist Church mission fund, 500 S. Thornton Avenue, Dalton, GA 30720 or the Christian Bryant Foundation, c/o Northwest Georgia Community Foundation, P.O. Box 942, Dalton, GA 30722.
Words of comfort may be sent to the family at www.lovefuneralhomega.com. Love Funeral home, Dalton, was in charge.