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Arenda (Piper) Ramsey
Caldwell & Cowan Funeral Home
obit
Updated: Mar 6, 2021, 3:33 AM
Published: Mar 6, 2021, 3:34 AM

Arenda (Piper) Ramsey died Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021, after a brief illness.  A devoted wife, sister and aunt, she was a tireless advocate for young people, the elderly, and her family.  Born on September 3, 1943, Arenda Inez Piper was the first child of Rev. Leon and Mrs. Inez Piper.  In time, she would be the older sister to two brothers, Leon Jr. and Mark, both of whom she loved and cherished.  After high school and secretarial school, she worked at the General Motors Plant at Lakewood, where she met Robert “Bob” Ramsey.  They were married on June 10, 1967, and lived in Stone Mountain, and Hartwell for nearly 50 years before he preceded her in death in January 2018.  

As a loyal GM employee, she always earned the trust and admiration of her co-workers. She turned out of the lights at the Lakewood plant, and finished her career at the Doraville plant. 

During their marriage, they shared a love of travel – both car trips to national parks here in the United States, and cruises to exotic destinations around the world.  She decorated her home with many beautiful photographs that Bob took on their travels.  They often traveled with friends and shared many delightful memories with them.

A devoted aunt to her seven nieces and nephews, she made birthday cakes, sewed Homecoming dresses, hid hundreds of Easter eggs, and created many cherished memories with each of them.  She was fortunate enough to dance at each of their weddings and celebrate the birth of her great nieces and nephews. Handcrafted with love and great attention to detail, she made wedding quilts for her nieces and nephews, and ones for the nursery of many of her great nieces and nephews.  She worked to provide blankets and quilts to young mothers, who may not have had them otherwise, and countless lap quilts for the elderly that she also championed.

A long-time member of Smoke Rise Baptist Church, she volunteered with the youth program, and spent countless hours in support of her Sunday School class and its members.  In Hartwell, GA, she dedicated her time and attention to the young preschoolers, volunteering as the preschool librarian for the First Baptist Church of Hartwell. She would lovingly and painstakingly select books for the young children, organized the library, and new additions to its collection.

For years, she cared for her elderly aunts and uncles, taking them special treats and gifts as they aged, but also checking on them often to make sure they were able to age at home and with as much dignity as possible.  She was a frequent volunteer at area nursing homes, taking arts and crafts, snacks, and activities to local residents, always caring deeply for those marginalized, and often forgotten members of society. A woman of great faith, she was always very practical in her application of God’s love for others, and one who lived out the gospel message by being the hands and feet of God to those who needed help.

She was preceded in death by her husband Robert Ramsey, her parents Rev. Leon and Inez Piper and her brother, Mark, and is survived by her brother Leon and sister-in-law Hedy Piper, and her nieces and nephews – Brian (Elizabeth) Ramsey, Keith (Trish) Ramsey, Bruce Ramsey, Natalie (Scott) Williams, Allison (Ryan) Rennie, Katie (Trevor) Albertson, and Ben (Lindsey) Piper, and 17 great nieces and nephews. 

A graveside service will be held Sunday, May 30, 2021, at 3 p.m., to honor both Bob and Arenda at Lawnwood Memorial Park, 1111 Access Road, Covington, Georgia. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to either the Gary Sinise Foundation or the American Cancer Society.

CDC guidelines recommend social distancing (6 feet apart) and wearing of masks while in public.  Caldwell & Cowan Funeral Home requests that you observe these recommendations while in our funeral home attending visitations and/or services.  In addition, gatherings are limited to 50 persons or less in our facility at one time.  Please honor these restrictions for the safety of the family, yourself, and our staff.

This obituary was prepared with love and affection by Mrs. Ramsey’s family.
Obituary: John Keck
John Keck obit
John Keck - photo by Contributed Photo
Published: Apr 18, 2025, 8:12 PM

John Keck, 73, passed away on April 14, 2025, due to complications following a lung transplant.

John is survived by his wife, Susie, who was blessed to be by his side for 51 years. Their love story began when he wooed her from behind the counter of a hardware store when she was just 18, and from that moment on, they were inseparable.

John also leaves behind his son, Logan, and daughter, Kristi, along with their spouses, Melissa and Jay, all of whom considered him Dad. A man of many titles, his proudest was “Papa John,” the name given to him by his seven grandchildren – Ruby (15), John Ambrose (14), Emeka John (14), Jubilee (12), Riley (12), Glory (9), and Nova (4). (Yes, both of his grandsons were named after him). He also leaves behind his older brother, David, and younger sister, Carol, whom he loved dearly.

John was a highly respected businessman, retiring in 2016 as president of the Display Division at Pratt Industries. His professional journey spanned more than four decades and included leadership roles at Mead Packaging, Chesapeake Display and Packaging, and Smurfit-Stone. He began his career in accounting, transitioning to sales and marketing while rising through the ranks to executive management. John held a BSBA in accounting with a minor in finance from Appalachian State University and completed the Executive Management Program at the University of North Carolina.

Though his career was full of accomplishments, it was in retirement that John truly thrived. He and Susie traveled the world together, visiting all 50 states and 54 countries. His heart, however, belonged to Holden Beach, North Carolina, where the entire family would gather each year to play cards, watch sunsets, and spend long, joyful days by the ocean. Closer to home, he was a familiar and cherished face at Ashton Hills Golf Club, where he enjoyed trivia nights and Friday dinners with friends and neighbors in Covington Place.

To be loved by John was to be pranked by him. He had an infectious laugh and a mischievous streak—whether he was planting fake snakes, leaping from behind corners, or dumping ice water into showers. He loved to laugh, and even more so, to make others laugh.

An avid cyclist, John served as President of the Covington Conyers Cycling Club and routinely logged over 100 miles a week. His dedication to community was just as enduring. He served on the board of Newton Trails, spearheading fundraising for the Alcovy River Bridge project which created 14.25 miles of continuous paved trail on the Cricket Frog Trail. He also served on the board of Action Ministries, a non-profit seeking to end the cycle of poverty for disadvantaged children, provided support to the Newton County Boys and Girls Club, organized golf tournaments benefitting the Georgia Transplant Foundation, and gave his time to many other charitable causes.

John will be remembered as a humble man with deep integrity, a generous spirit, and boundless love. His presence was larger than life, and his absence will be deeply felt by all who knew and loved him.

A service to honor John will be held on May 3 at 4 p.m. at Legion Field, followed by a celebration of life at the Village Grille at Ashton Hills at 5:30 p.m., where friends and loved ones are invited to share their favorite memories. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Centre Presbyterian Church in Mooresville, North Carolina or Newton Trails.