Candace Todd

Candace Coles Yelton Todd died Saturday, September 10, after a long battle with breast cancer.

She is survived by her husband Garry Todd (Athens, GA), her sons and their families, Jared and Becky Yelton (Ella) (West Jefferson, NC), Adam and Sarah Yelton (Hunter, Bella, Corinne, and Robert) (Athens, GA), her stepdaughters and their families, Heather and Tyler Mahaffey (Mason, Mercer, Stepan, and Marianna) (Athens, GA), and Courtney and Wesley Middlebrooks (Sam, Caroline, and Claire) (Athens, GA), her brothers, Greg Coles (Titusville, FL) and Drew Coles (Rockledge, FL), and many aunts, uncles , nieces, and nephews.

The family will receive friends Tuesday from 5:00 until 8:00 pm at Lord and Stephens, WEST, and Wednesday from noon until 1:30 at Redeemer Presbyterian Church, 165 Pulaski St., Athens, GA 30601.

Funeral services will be Wednesday, September 14, 2016 at 2:00 pm at Redeemer Presbyterian Church. Interment will follow at Oconee Hill Cemetery. A reception will be held at the church following the graveside service.

Born in Columbus, IN on September 29, 1945, Candy grew up in both Nashville, IN, where she learned to love ice skating on the local ponds, and Cocoa, FL, where she developed her love for drama. She graduated from Cocoa High School in 1963, where she had performed in numerous plays and musicals.

After earning a degree in drama from Mars Hill College in 1967, she
moved to NYC, doing summer stock and repertoire theater before enrolling at Purdue to pursue a Masters degree in theater.

After marrying Michael Yelton in 1968 and moving to Athens, GA in 1971, her two sons, Jared Michael Yelton and James Adam Yelton, were born. They joined Prince Avenue Baptist Church, where she led the puppet team and directed drama for the popular "Singing Christmas Tree," a role she loved and repeated annually for over 20 years.

In 1980, Candy began her lifelong affiliation with Prince Avenue Christian School, teaching in the very first kindergarten class, then in second grade for 10 years. In 1991, she moved into middle and high school, beginning the first speech and drama classes as well as directing their very first play, The Mouse that Roared. She directed many, many more plays and continued to teach in the Fine Arts Department of Prince until retiring only last year.

In1992 she married Garry Todd, and in 1998 they joined the brand new Redeemer Presbyterian Church in downtown Athens, where she, of course, became involved with Vacation Bible School and the annual Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols. Together, they enjoyed two more of her loves for the past 24 years - traveling all over the world and spoiling their 12 grandchildren, who range in age from 6 months to 20 years.

She and her family would like to request that donations be made, in lieu of flowers, to the Prince Ave Christian School Fine Arts Department, 2201 Ruth Jackson Rd, Bogart, GA 30622, or online at www.princeave.org.