Marie Eakin

a lifetime educator, died, August 10, 2007, after a brief illness. For the past 43 years she resided in Vestavia Hills, Alabama with her husband, Richard G. Eakin. She is survived by her daughter, Lynn E. Murray (Charles) of Helena, Alabama; her granddaughter Jenni Leigh Murray of Kingussie, Scotland; a sister, Sarah B. King of Hickory, North Carolina; numerous nieces and nephews; and her husband, Richard. On May 31, 2007 the Eakins celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary. Mrs. Eakin is preceded in death by her parents Mary Chestnut Britt and Allen Milford Britt. Born in Clinton, North Carolina on March 17, 1932 she attended Atlantic Christian College where she met her husband. She graduated from college in 1953 with a degree in elementary education. Mrs. Eakin's teaching career spanned nearly five decades beginning in Sharpsburg, North Carolina. She retired from the Hoover Public School System in 1997 but continued to tutor children in mathematics and reading. Her love of education made her a gifted elementary school teacher. She was known statewide for the numerous reading seminars she presented to teachers and parents. Mrs. Eakin's special talents included gardening, and reading. Her garden is a wonderful place of serenity filled with azaleas, hydrangeas, and impatiens. She also took great pride in her two cocker spaniels, Annie and Sammie. The family will receive friends on Monday, August 13, 2007, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Currie-Jefferson Funeral Home, Hwy. 150, Hoover. Funeral services will be on Tuesday, August 14, 2007, at 11:00 a.m. in the funeral home chapel with Dr. David Fuller officiating. Interment will be in Jefferson Memorial Gardens, South. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to your local humane society.