During her high school years she played bass fiddle in the High School Orchestra and was a majorette for the Decatur Marching Band. After high school, Mary Ann attended Valdosta State College where she was a cheerleader. It was here she received her Associates Degree in Secretarial Science in 1957.
Moving to Cartersville in 1970, she was a personal assistant to J.C. Shaw at Shaw Industries Inc. Mary Ann was the "power behind the throne" for Mr. Shaw from 1977 until 2006. After retiring as his personal assistant, he convinced her to join him through the Shaw Family Foundation using her people skills and knowledge to raise money for Cartersville charities. It was during this time that she helped establish the Cartersville-Bartow Community Foundation, which supports all charitable organizations in Bartow County.
The loves of her life were her daughter, Jennifer, and her wonderful granddaughters, Jessica and Jillian. The arrival of Jessica supplied the missing link in her life and was enhanced with the arrival of Jillian. She took great joy in everything they did and they brought overwhelming joy to her life.
Bridge was the love of her life and she was in several clubs in town. She was in a foursome every Wednesday night with her dear friends, Sandy Cunningham, Dovie Paulk, Olive Conlin and Amelia Powers. This bridge group was her passion and the four grew very close. She was a member of the Church of Ascension Episcopal Church where she served as a lay Eucharistic minister, a vestry member and clerk of the vestry for many years. She enjoyed volunteering at the Cartersville Medical Center as an auxiliary member for several years as well.
For many years, she and a special group of friends traveled to Europe. She loved the experiences and always came home with her suitcase loaded with gifts for friends and family. Tennis was also a fun activity that gave her great exercise. She played with the Southern Tennis Association, another outlet for her many friendships.
Her friends were many. Her cheerfulness and compassion endeared her to everyone she met. She was always available with comfort, advice and love and hence was blessed with many friends. She enjoyed life to the fullest and never stopped living. She had a joyful, loving spirit right up until the end when the cancer tried to dull her spirit. It never succeeded.
Survivors include daughter, Jennifer Franklin Kubat and son-in-law Jeremy William Kubat; granddaughters, Jessica Faith and Jillian Grace Kubat; one brother, Earl H. Morgan Jr. of Union City, Ga.; cousins, Fran and Ed Lormand from Fernandina Beach, Fla., and cousin Henry Walton, Hattiesburg, Miss.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Nov. 13, at 3 p.m. at Church of the Ascension, 205 West Cherokee Ave., Cartersville, Ga. 30120. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Church of the Ascension Red Door Fund or Food Pantry.
Arrangements by SouthCare Cremation Society and Memorial Centers in Marietta. 770-420-5557.