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In memory of

Georgia Ellen McCollum

Collierville, TN, USA

December 12, 1940 - August 11, 2020

Dec 12, 1940 - Aug 11, 2020

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- - GEORGIA ELLEN MCCOLLUM

On Monday, August 11th, 2020, Georgia, our beloved mother, selflessly devoted grandmother and grandmother, G.E.M. of a friend, Christ-following mentor, and eternal sunshine passed away. Georgia, a leader and encourager from birth, entered the world on December 12th, 1940 in Ogden, Utah.

Growing up in Boulder City emboldened her early accomplishments. She was the mother of three children; Roger, Steve, and Jacqueline. She savored living in the desert and she deeply cherished her relationships that she forged in high school. She prized her early childhood memories of exploring, learning, laughing, and perspective building with her big brother Will. She revered participating in the historic preservation of the Hoover Dam. She served on the City Council for Boulder City, she led her Boulder High School Class reunions, and she enriched Boulder City’s tourism industry by owning Desert Sands Pottery & Gift Shop locally. Georgia was entrepreneurial and diligent in all of her Boulder City municipal accomplishments.

After raising her children into adulthood, she lived in her dream home overlooking Lake Mead in the mid-nineties, which served as a family oasis. Later in life, Georgia lived in three different states to be near her grandchildren, and sweepingly devoted herself to her family.

To say that “we miss our Georgia” is an understatement -- pieces of our hearts departed with her as she entered this next chapter of her life, eternity with her maker, and while we are filled with peace knowing that she is with God, the void that follows the loss of her larger-than-life presence rattles her three surviving generations. Today, we remember her boisterous laughter, intoxicating charisma, unbridled joy, and jaw-droppingly gorgeous brown-eyed smile. We believe that Georgia is singing in Heaven the hope-filled lullaby she sung beautifully while holding us tight as children, “You are my sunshine, you are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are gray, you’ll never know how much I love you.”

Georgia’s adventurous spirit was unparalleled. Her rainbow spectrumed energy, infectious joy, and agape characteristic encouragement are once-in-a-lifetime. She lit up every room, reversed all sorrows, encouraged our youthful desires, supported our fragilities, sharpened us as iron sharpens iron, and imparted thousand-year-old wisdom that could re-shape even the most stagnant of establishments. For Georgia, nothing was impossible. She was a dreamer and her legacy will be carried through all of our life lines.

It is impossible to capture a person like Georgia in an obituary, and especially someone whose life was defined by family, excellence, and blessing. To most, Georgia was a best friend — to her family, she was the most generous mother and grandmother. What a loss this is for us but Georgia's legacy is eternal. She was intelligent, warm, fearless, pioneering, and resilient. She could and would talk to anyone, and when you were in her company you wanted to stay forever. Growing up in a society that seemed to have set many obstacles forward against young women pursuing leadership roles and academic accolades, she persevered and put her best foot forward in everything that she did. She was adored as a daughter, sister, niece, cousin, friend, mother, and grandmother, and being loved by Georgia was a constantly astonishing gift.

Georgia’s legacy is continued by her beloved children, Roger McCollum, Steve McCollum, and Jacqueline DeGideo; her brother Will Julien; and her seven grandchildren, Danielle Cheney, Luke McCollum, Jessica Huey, Sara Narey, Ana Fass, Kelsey DeGideo, and Coleman DeGideo.

Please join us for a pavilion memorial service honoring Georgia’s life on Saturday, August 22, at 9 a.m., at the Boulder City Municipal Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Tails of Hope Dog Rescue, an area where Georgia spent a large portion of her time and felt most passionate about. Donations can be made via their website happidogrescue.com.

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