Kathleen Rutherford

Mrs. Mary Kathleen (Kitty) Rutherford, age 89 of Calhoun, passed away Monday, October 19, 2009 at Gordon Hospital. Mrs. Rutherford was born on June 29, 1920, one of eight children born to Elbert Zephaniah and Annie Cleo Culberson Martin of Clay County, Alabama. She was an active member of the Liberty Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her husband, Oscar Samuel (Sam) Rutherford in 1997; three brothers, Marion Woodfin Martin, Morris Edward Martin, and Aldus Floyd Martin; a sister, Nelda Jean Martin Germany; and several nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Rutherford was an active member of the Calhoun-Gordon County Library, and a member of the American Legion Auxiliary. Before moving to Calhoun, she taught floral arranging and merchandising on the district level for F.W. Woolworth & Company. In her many years in Gordon County, she taught at Sugar Valley School, volunteered at the VAC, and was a founding member and past president of the Gordon County Artists and Craftsman Guild. In addition, she was a member, officer, and/or past president of the Hillhouse Garden Club, Elks Aidmore Auxiliary, the Gordon County and Hill City State and National Homemaker's Councils, Gordon County Civil War Sentential Council, Gordon County Historical Society, and Gordon County Education Association. She was past chairman of Georgia State Girl's State, a Gordon County Board of Elections Poll Official, and a Master Gardener. She served on the election campaigns for both President Jimmy Carter, and the Honorable Bert Lance, and was a known newspaper columnist, poet, and artist. "Miss Kitty" will be missed by many.

Surviving are sisters, Mrs. Madine Elizabeth Martin Pitts of Talladega, Alabama, and Mrs. Jessie Lee Martin Wade of Mansfield, Georgia; a brother, John Thomas Martin of Talladega, Alabama; and nieces and nephews.

A memorial service to honor her life will be held at the Liberty Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1115 Liberty Church Road SW, at 11:00am on Saturday, November 14, 2009.

At her request, Mrs. Rutherford's body will be cremated and her cremains will be interred next to those of her husband in the Andersonville National Historic Site in Andersonville, Georgia.

Online condolences may be expressed and the guestbook signed at www.maxbrannonandsons.com. Family owned and operated Max Brannon and Sons Funeral Home in charge of funeral arrangements for Mrs. Mary Kathleen (Kitty) Rutherford, of Calhoun.