Mary Coleeta Sawyer Harper, age 94 of Ellijay, went home to the Lord on Saturday, October 28, 2023.

She was born on August 27, 1929, the only child of Bill and Kate (Hill) Sawyer. Raised in East Ellijay, where she was born, she was well loved, not only by her parents but as an only grandchild to her father's parents and the oldest grandchild on her mother's side.

Coleeta was always a talkative person, and for those who knew her, it comes as no surprise that she got "talks or whispers too much" on many report cards.

She graduated from Ellijay High School. She was on the very first cheerleading squad, a member of the Glee club, the ladies ensemble, future homemakers, annual staff officer, senior class officer and in the Queen's Court (what we call homecoming court today).

She was saved at revival at age sixteen and baptized in the river in East Ellijay. She graduated in 1946. She became the first telegraph operator in Gilmer County.

She married on April 1, 1951 to James Leon Harper. They owned and ran the bus station as well as the telegraph office. After their daughter was born in 1954, she eventually began to work retail, which became her true life's work. She always worked outside the home except for a year off in 1964 when their twin sons were born.

Many children raised in the 1980's remember her as the Dixie Dime Store lady, where she worked from 1972 until her retirement.

After retirement, she took on another job of raising babies so that mamas could go to work, helping raise six children who still call her Nanny.

She is survived by three children, Kathi Harper Hill (David), Jerry Leon Harper and James Gerry Harper (Michelle); three grandchildren, Eddie (Mandy) Harper, Jesse Harper (Lee) Logan, and Anna Kate Hill and step- grandson, Trey Beckett; three great-grandchildren, Sawyer Harper, Hannah Harper and Ryder Logan.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 37 years, James Leon Harper, who passed in 1988.

Funeral Services will be held on Monday, October 30th, 2023 at 4:00 p.m. from the Chapel of Bernhardt Funeral Home with Rev. Christian Burton officiating. Interment will follow in the Oak Hill United Methodist Church Cemetery. Pallbearers serving will include: Eddie Harper, Lee Logan, David Hill, Bob Worley, Steve Wells, and Joe Wells. Honorary Pallbearers will include: Eddie Ellington, John Hill, Raymond Long, and Bobby Sisson. Music will be sung by Mrs. Irene Wofford.

The family will receive friends on Sunday, October 29th, 2023 from 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

Flowers will be accepted; however, the family respectfully asks that no food be brought to the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Oak Hill United Methodist Church Cemetery Fund.

Bernhardt Funeral Home of Ellijay is in charge of these arrangements.