Cover photo for Kathryn June Bohannon's Obituary
Kathryn June Bohannon Profile Photo

Kathryn June Bohannon

January 26, 1940 — April 9, 2020

Kathryn June Bohannon sought and brought beauty to her world before she left it, and us, on Thursday, April 9, 2020.

She came into this world in 1940 in an unpainted sharecropper house in the middle of a cornfield in Denton, Georgia. She didn’t breathe until the delivering doctor dipped her alternately in hot and cold water, wrapped her in a quilt and laid her next to the fire. When she finally came to life, kicking that quilt off, there was very little that could stop her from dreaming big.

Kathryn had 27 cousins on the Bohannon side of her family, and they were tight like siblings. Her family, scattered across the U.S., had brought her joy and sustained her from the time they all grew up going to Eureka Baptist, the family church in Hazlehurst, Georgia. In fact, in her later years, cousins Vivian and Donnie made regular visits, bringing homemade goodies and helping with her home, including replacing light bulbs when needed.

Kathryn had several moments that defined her life: when her father, William (Bud) Bohannon, died unexpectedly one month before she graduated from high school; when she became a mother (and then a grandmother), and when she retired from civil service after 32 years at Robins Air Force base in Warner Robins, Georgia. The most tragic moment was when she suddenly lost her daughter, Jan, in July of 2018.

In Kathryn’s search for beauty and contentment, she created a sweet life surrounded by the traditional southern plants she nurtured in her postage-stamp yard, art she painted or collected on her travels, and a lively, extended family sprouting from her three daughters: Cathy, Jan and Cindi… and their children and grandchildren.

Kathryn enjoyed telling how her mother, Janet Julia Mims Bohannon, who passed away in 1999, talked about her wanderlust by stating, “If anybody came by going anywhere, I was ready to go!” Her mother also said that as a youngster, Kathryn would rather be playing baseball or climbing trees than being hugged. And away she'd go.

Kathryn loved to travel and spend time with her friends. Some of her favorite trips were to Scotland and Ireland with her devoted friends Cathie D. and Jackie C. Her 46-year friendship with Sharron A. included shenanigans as they traveled and participated in Toastmaster speeches and art classes. Her friends were her mainstay: the trio she formed with Barbara S. and Jeynelle S. from high school meant they only lost touch when death separated them. She also spent her contented days buoyed by her friends Wynell C., Linda H., Sheryl Y., Lynnette L. and countless others.

No one could make divinity candy with pecans like our Mama. No one. She was expected to bring divinity to all family and holiday gatherings and even taught her cousins how to make it at one of many family reunions in the North Georgia mountains. Speaking of the mountains, she was a mountain person, preferring cooler weather, taller trees, and cozier cabins to any seaside frolicking. Kathryn added beauty into the world by playing the piano and flute, crocheting, painting nature, and in reveling art, music, movies, and books. She was a huge part of her grandchildren’s and great-grandchildren's lives. She also enjoyed the little things, the kindnesses, the special moments: corny jokes, texts from her great-grandson Dylan, baby birds in a nest on her patio, her Camellia bush blooming, and calls from her family and friends.


For someone with so much enthusiasm, dying in the middle of a global pandemic seems to be an especially cruel fate, with no family allowed to be by her side, only doctors and nurses caring for her. But they did a great job of being there for her when we could not. And it makes sense that as a newborn Kathryn had to be coaxed to take her first breath by a doctor, and as a woman leaving this world, she would be in the care of one during her final breaths.

Our greatest comfort is knowing her dear friend Jackie C, a nurse, was able to see her while in isolation on her final day. Jackie gave her a warm, friendly, familiar smile, along with a gentle wave, and received both in return from Kathryn. Thank you, Jackie, for every single thing you and Cathie D. have done for our mama, and for us.

This sweet, gentle, southern lady will be missed by her daughters, Cathy (Gary) Miller and Cindi (Brent) Brown; her grandchildren, Donnie McGuire, Jaime (Sven) Burrell, Shawn (Megan) Davenport, James Coleman, Hillary Miller, Garrison Miller, and Luke Miller; and great-grandchildren, Pacely Mae Davenport, Kenna Lee Davenport, Mary Margaret Davenport, Dylan Riley Burrell and Ella Maya Burrell; her former husband, Donald Brown; her brother, Richard (Sandra) Bohannon, and her sister Pam (Roger) Wimberly, and all of her lovely nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews. In addition to her parents and daughter, Kathryn was preceded in death by her sister, Gail (Johnny) Moye, in 2018.

Due to the current COVID-19 situation and restrictions in place, we will celebrate our mama’s wit, love, and appreciation of all things beautiful later, when it's safe for family and friends to gather together again. Her Celebration of Life will be announced at a later time.




To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Kathryn June Bohannon, please visit our flower store.

Videos

Guestbook

Visits: 9

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors