Mary Ann Hightower

Mary Ann Hightower, matriarch of several DeKalb County pioneering families. Mary Ann Floyd was born on March 1st, 1929, at home in East Atlanta to Joseph Floyd Sr., and Mary Lilly Reagin Floyd. She died peacefully on Palm Sunday, April 2nd at home in East Atlanta, A tomboy, Mary Ann grew up gallivanting the 25+ acre family farm, playing cowboys and Indians with brothers Joe Floyd Jr., and Edwin Floyd. Her father was the president of Floyd Bros Incorporated, a manufacturer of cabinetry window screens, and contractor for commercial spaces throughout Atlanta. Floyd Bros. was responsible for a renovation of the famed Varsity restaurant, owned by a hunting buddy. Mary Ann was the last of a generation and could remember a time when you would swim in the 'lake' at the East Lake Golf Club and take the trolley from Girls High School in Grant Park down to Stone Mountain for an afternoon. She was descended from early DeKalb County pioneers; her grandfather, Edwin Reagin, was Sheriff and Tax-Collector for the county and was said to have never cursed in his life; her grandmother was the great-niece of Rev. Jesse Mercer, namesake of Mercer University; and she was descended from the Bond-Braswell family of Lithonia, founders of Rock Chapel UMC, the first Methodist church in the county. Members of her family have been instrumental in the religious, civic, and cultural development of DeKalb County and the State of Georgia. Mary Ann attended Gordon Elementary School, Murphy Junior High, and graduated from Girls High School in 1947. At Girls High she lettered in Volleyball, Softball, and Basketball. After high school, she and lifelong friend Olena McCullers went to Tift College in Forsyth. At Tift, she was named most athletic in the class of 1951 and graduated with a degree in history. Upon graduation, she married the boy next door, the love of her life, and the 'fool who married a girl from Gordon School', Robert L. Hightower, at Moreland Avenue Baptist Church. In the early years of her marriage, she worked for the Atlanta Department of Parks and Recreation managing East Lake Park. She later spent time as a homemaker, raising three children at the corner of Bouldercrest Drive and Willow Place, the Hightower's four acre in-town farm. The family often had a few cats and dogs in addition to ponies, horses, burrows, goats, and at one time a cow named Stonewall. The home was the center of barbeques, pool parties, and annual Christmas parties. In the 1970s, Mary Ann resumed work for the Federal Office of Personnel Management where she earned special recognition from the Governor. She spent retirement working for voter's rights, overseeing elections; gardening, assisting her husband in landscaping their home; traveling with dear friends of 70 years, Charles and Evelyn Smith; and most importantly cherished time with her three grandchildren. She was a lifelong member of Moreland Avenue Baptist Church and a founding member of Lakeview Baptist Church. She later joined Historic Martha Brown UMC (founded in the parlor of relative Marcus Minor), where she served as a trustee. Most recently she joined the First United Methodist Church of Decatur. Mary Ann was an avid supporter of her alma mater and sold many young women on Tift College. A lifelong Yellow Jacket fan, she offered her time as volunteer security at Georgia Tech football games. She also worked on the opening ceremony team for the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games. She was a founding member of the East Lake YMCA and a member of the East Atlanta Civic Association, Zoo Atlanta, Friends of Sylvester Cemetery, and the DeKalb History Center. She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers, and husband; son, Robert Floyd Hightower; nephews, Brett, Steve, Jay, and Joe Floyd; and beloved housekeeper and friend, Sally Jackson. She is survived by daughters, Lee Ann Dearing (Phillip) of Forsyth, GA, and Amy Hightower of Atlanta (Jason Pinnock); grandchildren, Kim Dearing Snow (Michael) of Senoia, Lacy Dearing Williams (Mitchell) of Dacula, and E. Alexander Thomas of Atlanta, and three great grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Mary Ann Hightower to the Dekalb History Center or Decatur First United Methodist Church. A celebration of life will be held Monday, April 10th, at the Abbey of Westview Cemetery with internment in Westview. Visitation will occur at 1 p.m. followed by the service at 2 p.m. Condolences may be submitted on-line at www.scotward.com. Scot Ward Funeral Services, 699 American Legion Road, Conyers, GA 30012, 770-483-7216.

Mary Ann Hightower

March 1, 1929 - April 2, 2023