Mary Lou Brown Colvin, 93, died July 28, 2016.

A longtime resident of Sandy Springs, Mary Lou lived with her daughter, Celia and son-in-law, Brant Beene, in Birmingham, Ala., for the past five years.

Born in Graves Station on May 31, 1923 to Susie Cheatham Chambless and Joseph Cecil Brown Sr., she graduated from Dawson High School in 1940 and Andrew College two years later.

In 1942 she found employment where her parents had met, at Ft. Benning in Columbus, and assisted the commanding general.

Five years later, she met a young officer named Walker Owens Colvin and they were married the next year.

After the birth of two daughters, Cherrie and Celia, the family moved from Columbus to Atlanta.

Mary Lou was hired as an executive assistant to former Georgia Governor Carl Sanders while he was still a young attorney.

Later, she joined Norton Company and retired after 26 years.

She was a member of Sandy Springs United Methodist Church for more than 50 years.

She especially enjoyed being part of "The Committee," where she and friends planned social events for their Sunday school class. She loved to travel and visited almost every state and continent.

Her husband, W.O. Colvin; daughter, Cherrie Hallen; sister, Doris Case; and brother, Joe Cecil Brown Jr., preceded her in death.

Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Celia and Brant Beene of Birmingham, Ala.; grandchildren, Charley and Katy Beene, Billy Beene, Libby and Miles Hudson, all of Birmingham, Ala., Bo Hallen, Jamie Hallen, Candace and Jordon Cook Hallen, all of Atlanta; great-grandchildren, Kimbell and Emily Beene, Kimber Hallen, Hawkins Hudson; sisters-in-law, Charline Hays Brown of Monroe, La., Lila Colvin Beazley of Augusta; various other relatives also survive.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. July 31 at Beggs Funeral Home in Lincolnton.