A. S. Turner and Sons Funeral Home

06/02/2026

Traditions have evolved over time, and today, families have more choices than ever for honoring a loved one.

Terramation is a newer option that focuses on returning the body to the earth through natural organic reduction, a process that imitates nature by gently converting human remains into soil. Once the process is complete, the resulting soil can be used to nurture gardens and plants or even scattered in a special place for a notable green goodbye.

Curious about this eco-friendly choice? Give us a call at 404.292.1551 or visit www.asturner.com/services/natural-organic-reduction.

06/02/2026

Ruth Lavinia Zingarelli

Ruth Lavinia (Smith) Zingarelli passed away peacefully at her home on Sunday, May 31, 2026. Ruth was born on January 22, 1931, and lived in Wickford, Rhode Island with her parents John H. Smith, Jr. and Sarah Ruth (Strobridge) Smith. Ruth is survived by her sister Margaret (Smith) Anderson. Ruth is survived by her son John Nicholas, his wife Cindy and their son John Nicholas II, his wife Christina and their daughters Makenzie Harper and Addison Elayne, and their son David and his girlfriend Erin. Ruth is also survived by her daughter Sarah. Ruth is preceded in death by her husband, Nicholas Louis.

Ruth was beloved by all who knew her. A long-time member of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 66 in Decatur, she was Unit President twice and District President twice. As a Department VA Deputy, she volunteered over 15,000 hours at the Atlanta VA Medical Center, including making phone calls for the Women Veterans Program in her later years.

She was active in her neighborhood book club and was a parishioner at the University Heights United Methodist Church.

Visitation will be from 12:00-1:00 p.m. at A. S. Turner in Decatur on Thursday, June 4th, with the service from 1:00-2:00 p.m. If you have a story to tell or a tribute to give, there will be time during the service to do so.

There will be an escorted procession to the Decatur Cemetery where she will be buried next to her husband. From 3:00-5:00 p.m., there will be a reception at the American Legion Post 66.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the USO.

A.S Turner, 2773 N. Decatur Rd., Decatur 30033

Decatur Cemetery, 229 Bell St., Decatur 30030

American Legion Post 66, 30 Covington Rd, Avondale Estates 30002 USO - https://georgia.uso.org/hartsfield-jackson-airport

View Ruth Lavinia Zingarelli's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

06/02/2026

Joy Lynn Bouchard

Joy Lynn Bouchard, age 76, entered her heavenly home on May 30, 2026, in Lilburn, GA, with family by her side. She had a deep love of Jesus Christ, her Lord and Savior, her family, her church, all children, arts and crafts, stamp-collecting, hymn-singing, and loved to celebrate the big and little milestones of life.

Joy was born on October 30th, 1949, in Somers Point, NJ to Rosalind (Hurt) and Milton Leininger. She grew up as one of six children in a pastor's family in Baltimore, MD. She had a deep love of her home church, Abbott Memorial Presbyterian where her father was the pastor for over 25 yrs. She attended Eastern High School in Baltimore. And later received her BA from Washington Bible College in Washington, DC. There she met the love of her life, Dennis.

She married her college sweetheart, Dennis Bouchard, on June 10, 1972. They had three wonderful children; Julie (& John) Fries of Smoke Rise, GA, Emily (& Charles) Grandmaison of Amarillo, TX and Nathan Bouchard of Marmora, NJ. Joy and Dennis had six cherished grandchildren: Mia, Nolan, Kendall, Elodie, Eden and Matthew. She had three sisters, two brothers, and many nieces, nephews and extended family that also loved her very much.

Joy and Dennis moved to Rheems/Elizabethtown in Lancaster County, PA in the 1980s. And they lived there until moving to Atlanta, GA in 2019 to be near family. Throughout her life, Joy was an active member and volunteer for many organizations, but most recently she served as a Sunday School teacher at First Presbyterian Church of Mount Joy, PA. Soon after moving to Atlanta, she became a member of Smoke Rise Baptist Church and attended the Joy class and the Wednesday evening Bible study and supper.

Joy was a faithful servant and follower of Christ Jesus and loved her family, church, neighbors, co-workers, and community as Christ taught us to love one another.

Family and friends will gather at Smoke Rise Baptist Church, Joy's most recent Church home, 5901 Hugh Howell Rd. Stone Mountain, GA 30087, at 10:00 am Thursday June 4, 2026 for visitation. Funeral service will begin at 11:00 am. Interment will be held at Melwood Cemetery, 5170 E. Ponce de Leon Ave Stone Mountain, GA 30083 at 2:00 pm Thursday June 4,2026.

In lieu of flowers, donations to St Jude Children's Research Hospital and Smoke Rise Baptist Church would be appreciated.

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06/01/2026

Carolyn McDowell

Carolyn Sears McDowell, born in Richmond Virginia on April 24, 1932, passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 23rd, 2026, with family by her side. Carolyn was a wonderful wife, mother, and grandmother. She was also an amazing caregiver for her granddaughter Hannah for many years, until Hannah passed away in 2023. Carolyn's love for music and drama touched countless lives. She delighted in her work as a music coach, mentor, and dramatist, sharing her craft with great love and generosity of spirit, and always focusing on others. Carolyn's greatest gift was helping those in her care find their own talents. Her wonderful spirit will be missed by all who knew her.

Carolyn graduated from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ with a Bachelor of Music in Voice and Organ. She also studied vocal technique with Leon Thurman of The Voice Network in Minneapolis and was one of fourteen chosen nationally for special training in the 1988 Choristers Guild Professional Skills Seminar for Clinicians. She is listed in the 1965 edition of Outstanding Young Women of America. Carolyn began her career with her husband, Henry L. McDowell, serving for eight years at the Methodist Children's Home in Waco, Texas, followed by nine years serving as Directors of Music and Drama at Johnson Memorial UMC in Huntington, West Virginia.

Carolyn and Henry then moved to Decatur First United Methodist Church in Atlanta, where they faithfully served as co-directors of the Ministry of Music and Drama from 1971 until they retired in September 2003. While at Decatur First UMC, Carolyn specialized in voice and drama for the children and youth choirs, both directing and writing. Her writings, which included choric speech, short dramas, worship settings, sketches, scenes, one-act plays, and poetry, were featured at Decatur First, and have been presented by churches nationwide. She was featured in various publications, newsletters, and books: Choristers Guild, THE CHORISTER Educational Ministries, Youth Unlimited, and Association for the Arts in the Church of the Brethren. In addition, Carolyn was a frequent clinician for children's choral festivals in West Virginia, Virginia, Georgia, North Carolina, Maryland, Wisconsin, Georgia and Texas and led workshops on drama in worship in Texas, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Georgia and West Virginia.

Since her retirement in 2003, Carolyn volunteered as a script writer for Directors Sonny Walden and John Cowden at Decatur First UMC, and also served as substitute or interim organist and/or director for several Atlanta area churches including Steward Avenue UMC, Briarcliff UMC, Good Shepherd Presbyterian of Lilburn, All Saints Lutheran Church of Lilburn, University Heights UMC, as well as for Decatur First UMC after her retirement.

Carolyn was a charter member and past president of the Atlanta Georgia Chapter of Choristers Guild and was Dean of the Huntington, WVA Chapter of the AGO and drama director of the Musical Arts Guild of that city. She served for 12 years on the Executive Committee for the Atlanta Choristers, Guild Midwinter Workshop and was camo "Honcho" and drama writer/teacher for the Atlanta Chapters annual children's Summer Choir Camp for seven summers.

Carolyn was predeceased by her husband Henry L. McDowell, daughter Debra Hubbard and husband William Hubbard, and granddaughter Hannah Hubbard. She is survived by her son, Kevin McDowell and wife Suzanne Duplantis, son Bryan McDowell and wife Sherry McDowell, and daughter Shari McDowell. Carolyn is also survived by her grandchildren Mei-Mei McDowell, Lily McDowell, Mark McDowell, Scott McDowell and wife Kelsey McDowell, Grace Shewbridge and husband Daniel Shewbridge, Jacob Hubbard and wife Eliza Hubbard. Carolyn had five great grandchildren, Charli, Bram, Tatum, Rhett, and Gavin.

A Celebration of Life for Carolyn McDowell will be held at 1:00 pm on Saturday, June 13th at Decatur First United Methodist Church, at 300 E Ponce de Leon Ave, Decatur, GA 30030 with a reception to follow in Fellowship Hall. The service will also be streamed live @ www.decaturfirst.org.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to honor Carolyn’s life and faith through a gift made in her memory to the Music and Drama Program at Decatur First United Methodist Church—a ministry that reflects her love of worship, creativity, and community.

View Carolyn McDowell's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

06/01/2026

06/01/2026

Judith Rhea Cox

Judy Rhea Cox

Loving Mother and Caregiver in the Community of Christ

Judith Martin Rhea was born in Terrebonne Parish in the marshlands of Houma, Louisiana, in 1943. The second of four children to D.W. and Pollyanna Rhea, she was a smart, alert, curious child. Her parents had grown up in abject poverty, but her father had become a successful businessman, and she grew up in a large house filled with books and the sound of piano music. She went by Judy.

She was an excellent student in high school, excelling at her academic subjects and loving the precision of being a majorette. She spent her summers at Camp Glen Arden with her little sister, Polly.

She attended LSU, where she earned her degree in secondary educati0n with a minor in French. She was a sharp, strong student, a member of the Chi Omega sorority, and the SEC's best female longshot on the intercollegiate riflery team. She was popular; she was named Queen at the Krewe of Houmus Mardi Gras Ball. Boys liked her. One boy, John Fred Gourrier, liked her so much he wrote a song about her, "Judy in Disguise." It became a number one hit. She cut a striking figure in Baton Rouge. Five different men proposed to her. She put them off. She earned a Master's of History, and worked as a high school teacher for years.

In 1968, she married Warren Cox. She had three children: Donald, Ellen, and Keith. The marriage lasted twelve years. Left to raise three children on her own, Judy made a choice; she would work but never to the detriment of her children's needs. She cobbled together a series of careers. She worked as a calligrapher, a substitute teacher, an educator teaching English as a second language, and caring for babies at Peachtree Corners.

She kept her children fed and clothed and cared for and loved. She extended her affections to her nieces and nephews. Every evening, she insisted on family time with whomever was in her house.

In the late seventies, she renewed her Christian faith. It became a cornerstone of her life. It sustained her through the hard times. She studied the Bible and taught it to her children. She was active at First Baptist Church Atlanta. On Sundays, she worked in the nursery, providing loving care for other people's babies so they could rejoice and fellowship with the Lord.

Judy was conservative and politically engaged, a regular caller to her representatives over the years. She was equally passionate about people's health; she was a tireless advocate for fitness and healthy eating.

She wasn't without contradictions. She was a good cook but only made three dishes. She liked movies but never watched them. She enjoyed network TV, including Walker, Texas Ranger and Showtime from the Apollo, but often complained about the crassness of popular culture. She was warm and accepting, but loved correcting her children's grammar. She could be blunt in her assessments.

Her children got married and had their own children: Su Lin, Saena, Warren, Jaydyn, Lachlan, and Mara. Her beloved son-in-law, Sean, always looked out for her.

She remained a fit, active woman. In her 70s, she could do three-minute planks and crack off dozens of pushups without breaking a sweat.

In her early eighties, she was working two jobs and driving, active in her grandchildren's lives. Many of her friends had died or moved away, but she did not complain and never felt sorry for herself. She wrote letters, read the Bible, and prayed. Her life was full.

In January of 2026, she grew ill. She spent the next few months in hospice, receiving visitors daily, friends and family and community members and former students, everyone thanking her for her warmth, wisdom, love, and support. Her final days were filled with love and peace. Everyone who ever knew her wanted to say goodbye. She was unafraid of death or dying. She had lived her life in accordance with her faith and knew she was going to spend eternity with the Lord.

In the early morning on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, Judy passed through the veil of tears to be with her heavenly Father. She is survived by her three children, eight grandchildren (including two step-grandchildren), and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family will have a graveside service at Honey Creek Woodlands, a natural burial site in Conyers, GA. The family welcomes you to visit the burial site whenever you are so led.

Instead of flowers, please give to the charity that most speaks to your heart.

View Judith Rhea Cox's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

05/29/2026

Hello Atlanta! Thank you Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Cobb, Henry, Forsyth, Clayton, and Rockdale Counties for your support. We are proud to be a part of your communities!

05/29/2026

Russell Hunter Bignardi

View Russell Hunter Bignardi's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

05/29/2026

In life, we prepare for so many things, but despite all our best efforts, the unexpected happens, including death away from home. The question is, is your family prepared? To learn more about what to do when the unexpected occurs away from home, give this blog a quick read!

When death occurs suddenly, you may not know what to do. This article has steps you can follow in case death occurs out of town.

05/29/2026

Tonnie June Smith

Tonnie June Smith, beloved mother and grandmother, passed away on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at the age of 78. The only child of James and Dorothy Padget, Tonnie was born in Springfield, IL, and moved to Chicago when she was 18 to work for Eastern Air Lines and travel the world. She lived in multiple cities until meeting the love of her life, Kenneth Lewis Smith, in Atlanta. They built their house with the help of family members in Conyers, GA, and had one child, Kirby. Tonnie was active with various social clubs, including her gardening club and bowling team.

Tonnie was a curious, adventurous person who enjoyed living life. Her favorite hobbies were reading, gardening, and painting, and she never stopped traveling, visiting the Balkans in 2025. She was a survivor. Tonnie was born with a congenital heart defect that required experimental surgery in St. Louis, a hub for cardiothoracic breakthroughs in the 1950s and 1960s. She had multiple valve replacements in adulthood. She was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome in 2015, requiring her to learn how to breathe on her own and walk again - which she did - at the age of 67. She was diagnosed with three different types of cancer, and all of them were either cured or went into remission.

After her husband passed in 2014, she moved to Decatur, GA, and the Central DeKalb Senior Center became a large part of her social life. She participated in many classes and trips through their fantastic programs. She also moved closer to her two grandchildren, Adelaide and Elise, and was able to spend time and travel with them. She was so thankful for the many years she was able to be a part of their lives and watch them grow.

While socializing was very difficult for her in her final months, she was aware of the impact she had on so many lives by seeing the messages of support that came through. Friendships meant a great deal to her and she was thankful for them all.

Tonnie is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Kirby Smith and Erica Freihaut-Smith, to whom she was incredibly thankful for helping her navigate the final months of her life. She is also survived by her two grandchildren, Adelaide and Elise Smith.

A visitation with the family will take place on Saturday, June 6, 2026, from 2:00-4:00PM at A.S. Turner and Sons Funeral Home, 2773 N Decatur Rd, Decatur, GA 30033. Please join the family to share pictures, stories, and memories of Tonnie.

View Tonnie June Smith's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.