Marie Boddy
Marie Nancy Buckner Boddy was born in Griffin, Georgia on October 4, 1920 to the late Mr. Claude Buckner and Mrs. Lizzie Pack Buckner. She was educated in the Spalding County Public schools and was a graduate of Vocational High School in Griffin. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Fort Valley State College. She did further study at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC).
Mrs. Boddy was baptized at Mt. Zion Baptist Church as a child and participated in many church activities. She was appointed secretary of the Sunday school at age 13 and served in that position for several years. She sang in the youth choir under the direction of Mrs. Susie B. Atkinson. As a young adult, Mrs. Boddy prepared church programs using handmade stencils, type writers and mimeograph machines for many years.
Her teaching career began at Barrow Chapel United Methodist Church in Griffin. During that time schools were often held in churches. Later she taught at Annie Shockley Elementary School in Griffin, which later became Anne Street Elementary School.
In 1964, she was united in marriage with Mr. Otis Charles Boddy (deceased). Upon marrying she joined her husband and began teaching in Cleveland Tennessee at College Hill Elementary School and retired from Avondale Elementary in Chattanooga after 30 plus years of service.
Her move to Chattanooga involved joining Allen Temple AME church where she served as an usher on the Finance Committee and as a church steward. In her later years she returned to Griffin and rejoined Mt. Zion Baptist Church. As an educator, Mrs. Boddy was affiliated with the Tennessee Education Association (TEA) and the Chattanooga Education Association (CEA).
Mrs. Boddy had two sisters and one brother who died at an early age. She and her devoted cousin, Lillie P. Gates (Deceased) grew up together and maintained their relationship as sisters for a lifetime. She co-parented Mrs. Juliette Gates McCann and strongly supported activities involving Tamara, Hope, Claude McCann, Jr. and Claude McCann, Sr. She was a mother figure to them, offering strong and no-nonsense guidance coupled with genuine compassion and love. She was preceded in death by two members of her blended family, Florence Boddy and Charles Boddy.
Mrs. Boddy was “First Class” all the way. She was the epitome of grace, dignity and elegance, always expecting excellence from herself and those around her. While in Griffin she was a member of the Lacisco Club, a ladies civic and social club and she was also an active member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
She leaves a rich legacy of strong morals and values and insurmountable love to the Claude McCann, Sr. family, Catherine Boddy, Richard Boddy, Lillie Boddy and Julian Boddy and twelve grandchildren and several great grandchildren.
Funeral service will be held at 10 AM, Saturday, October 10, 2015 at Mount Zion Baptist Church, located at 321 East Taylor Street, Griffin. Miller Family Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Announcement is by John P. Franklin Funeral Home, 1101 Dodds Ave., 423-622-9995.