Marie Lovell Underwood

Cochran Funeral Home of Hiawassee announces funeral services for Mrs. Marie Lovell Underwood, age 75, of Hiawassee, Georgia, who passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on May 7, 2014. She was born on November 8, 1938 to the late Leila Jane (Stephens) Lovell and Verdie Roosevelt Lovell of Blairsville, Georgia. She is preceded in death by her beloved husband John Norman Underwood, who was the light of her life. Also preceded in death by brothers Ed, Ray and Troy Lovell. She is survived by siblings Frances Hughes, Thelma Smith, Tom and Franklin Lovell, and brother and sister-in-law Edwin and Flora Underwood.

Her loving children include Rev. Billy and Debbie Nicholson; Kerry and Kathy Dills, John and Myra Underwood, all of Hiawassee; and Randy and Susan Abernathy of Gainesville, Georgia. Her grandchildren adored her and are Stephanie (Nicholson) Elliott and husband Tony; Andrew and Amy Dills; and 2 precious great grandsons, Garrett and Grant; Benjamin Dills, Evan and Brent Abernathy, Makayla and Taylor Underwood. She is survived by many dear friends and neighbors who loved her. She is a member of Mount Zion Baptist Church in Hiawassee and became a Christian at an early age, after being saved at Zebulon Baptist Church in Blairsville, Georgia. She loved good Gospel singing and The Underwood Family sang in churches all over the area for years. She had a love for camping, sewing, quilting, crocheting, going to the auctions and vacationing on the beach. Everyone who ever met or knew her fell in love with her and she never knew a stranger. She most enjoyed spending time with her family and she will be missed daily.

Our lives will forever be touched by her and her memory will live on in all who knew her. As a tribute to Marie, her 2 sons-in-law, Kerry Dills and Rev. Billy Nicholson will officiate the funeral service. Rev. Anthony Dye, Pastor of Mt. Zion Baptist Church, will lead the opening prayer and officiate at the graveside burial. Funeral services have been scheduled for Saturday, May 10, 2014, at 11:00 am at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Hiawassee. Special singers will include Israel Rogers and Lucas Phillips, and the Men of Zion, with a special music tribute from her daughter, Kathy Dills. The following gentlemen have been selected to serve as pallbearers: Andrew Dills, Benjamin Dills, Evan Abernathy, Brent Abernathy, Tony Elliott, and Brian Underwood. Selected to serve as honorary escort to the family is Shaun and Shea Underwood. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

The family will meet with friends at Cochran Funeral Home in Hiawassee on Friday evening, between the hours of 6 until 9 p.m.

A special "thank-you" goes out to her caregivers, Stephanie Elliott and Charlotte Miller, Regency Hospice, Donna Ledford, and CNA Mrs. Melissa, Dr. Holly Berndt and her staff at Chatuge Family Care, Dr. Charles Nash and staff of Longstreet Clinic, and to all those who came by with food, cards, visits, or encouraging words.....

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Cochran Funeral Home of Hiawassee. You may send condolences to this family on our website, www.cochranfuneralhomes.com.