Retired educator, local author, and humorist Mary Frazier Long, 89, of Lawrenceville, passed away on July 19, 2021. A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. on Saturday, August 7, 2021 at the Lawrenceville First Baptist Church in Lawrenceville. There will be a reception in the Fellowship Hall following the service.
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Mary Long was born in Lawrenceville in 1932 to Marvin and Alma Frazier. She grew up, in her words, “going barefoot everywhere” in Lawrenceville. She spent days in her father’s store and had her first job at the town cinema, which is now the Tabernacle of Christ Church. After graduating from Lawrenceville High School, Mary earned degrees from the University of Georgia and West Georgia College. She taught public school for 34 years. A lifelong advocate for public education, Mary was a former president of the Georgia Retired Educators Association, member of Delta Kappa Gamma, and was appointed to a statewide task force on education by then Gov. Jimmy Carter.
Mary authored many books, including About Lawrenceville and Old Georgia Privies, and she wrote the Road Runner, a column for the Gwinnett Citizen. She was known as the Lawrenceville historian and she provided commentary for the Lawrenceville Trolley Tours. Mary was a lifelong, active member of Lawrenceville First Baptist Church where she taught Sunday School for many years. Mary established a scholarship program using proceeds from her books and speeches.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband, William Dean Long, Sr., her parents, and her brothers and sisters. She is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, William (“Bill”) Dean Long, Jr. and Lynn Long of Dacula, and Victor and Ashley Long of Jefferson; four grandchildren, Jaletta Long Smith (Andrew), and Felicia, Maggie, and Elijah Long; five great grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, and other family members. The family will receive friends 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, August 6 at the home of Mary and Dean Long in Lawrenceville. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Mary Long Scholarship Fund at Lawrenceville First Baptist Church. Arrangements by Tim Stewart Funeral Home Lawrenceville.
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