Athens - Barbara Jean "Bee" Miller Maples was born on October 27, 1921, and passed away on September 19, 2011, with her trademark dignity and grace, after suffering for some time with congestive heart failure.
Her family moved frequently while she was growing up, and she was fond of saying that she "was born in Detroit but grew up in Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan." She moved to Atlanta after her marriage and worked as a secretary to Judge John Bell until her first child was born. She moved from Marietta to Morningside Assisted Living, in Athen,s three years ago due to declining health.
She loved opera and music, sang in church choirs and for a choral group as long as she was able, and enjoyed attending concerts. She and her late husband went on a number of trips and cruises together. She was an avid bridge player and belonged to several bridge and other clubs.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ted Maples; parents, Orla and Alice Miller; brother, Glen Miller; and sister, Ruth Powell.
She is survived by her son, Vaughn, and his wife, Cheryl, of Fort Wayne, Ind.; daughter, Janet Kannady, of Knoxville, Tenn.; daughter, Valerie Maples, and her husband, Rich Meagher, of Athens; grandchildren, Vaughn Maples, David Maples (wife, Ginny Huling), Adrienne Maples (husband, Scott Hacker), John Kannady (partner, Courtney Helfrecht), Geoff Kannady (wife, Rachel), Addie Meagher Carder (husband, Clif), Alice Meagher, and Adele Meagher; and great-grandchildren, Alex Maples, Emmaline Hacker, Oriana and Natascha Helfrecht Kannady, Annie, Jonas, and Melissa Jane Kannady, and Haley and Ella Carder. Also surviving are her cousin, Jane Clark; nephews, Roger Miller and Blake Powell; and niece, Laura Powell.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Saturday, September 24, in the Sunrise Chapel at Arlington Memorial Park, 201 Mount Vernon Road, Atlanta. Pastor Don Schroeder, of Faith Lutheran Church, will be officiating.
Those who wish to honor Bee's memory may do so by contributing to the American Heart Association (https://donate.americanheart.org/), the Building Fund of Faith Lutheran Church (2111 Lower Roswell Rd., Marietta, GA 30068), or any other charity of their choice.
Lord & Stephens Funeral Home East, Athens, has charge of arrangements.