A memorial service for Cynthia Geer Smith Whitney, 77, of Sautee Nacoochee, will be held Sept. 21, at 11 a.m. at Beck Funeral Home, Clayton. A celebration of Cynthia's life will follow at 1 p.m. at the Wildcat Fire Department Firehouse on Lake Burton, 5228 Highway 197 North, Clarkesville, GA 30523, covered dishes are welcome.
Mrs. Whitney passed away Sept. 11, 2019.
Born Jan. 8, 1942, in Coral Gables, Florida, she was the daughter of the late Dwight Arthur Smith and Dorothy Geer Smith.
She graduated from the University of Coral Gables, Miami, Florida.
Cynthia is survived by her husband of 57 years, Moragné "Ranny" Alexander Whitney Jr. of Sautee Nacoochee; and three children, Moragné Alexander "M.A." Whitney III of Dawsonville, DuGué Whitney Zion of Phoenix, Arizona, and Geer Whitney of Woodstock.
In the early 1970s, Cynthia, as chairwoman of the River Restoration Committee of the Junior League of Miami, initiated the clean-up efforts of the Miami River which continue to this day.
In 1973, Cynthia and Ranny brought their family to Lake Burton where they purchased and became the proprietors of Cherokee Landing Marina. Shortly thereafter, Cynthia started Whitney Realty with local real estate broker Mason Whitney (no relation).
Shortly after establishing herself on Lake Burton, Cynthia joined the Lake Burton Civic Association where she became President in 1978 and stayed involved with the organization throughout the rest of her life.
In 1976 Cynthia, her husband, Ranny, and Mason Whitney founded the Lake Burton Fireworks display to celebrate the United States Bicentennial. This annual July 4th celebration continues to this day for the residents of Lake Burton.
After almost 30 years of selling real estate, contributing to the community and living on the beautiful Lake Burton, Cynthia and Ranny Whitney moved to the Sautee Nacoochee valley to enjoy their retirement and spend time with their family and friends. A longtime artist, her watercolors can be found throughout both the U.S. and Europe. In recent years, she became passionate about knitting caps for abuse prevention and cancer patients and baby blankets for NICU units around the country.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Family Resource Center at frcofneg.org or 706-778-3100 and/or the Wildcat Volunteer Fire Department, 5228 Highway 197 North, Clarkesville, GA 30523.