Myrl Chafin Hansard

Mrs. Myrl Chafin Hansard, 95, went to sleep on Friday, April 26, 2013, and awoke in the arms of the One she had spent a lifetime pursuing, her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Mrs. Hansard was born on Feb. 7, 1918, in McDonough, GA, to Samuel C. and Ruth Downs Chafin. She received her BA in Greek from Agnes Scott, and thereafter met and married the love of her life, Vic Hansard. They had 8 children, and after rearing her children, she returned to school to receive a Master's degree in Library Science from Georgia State and a Master's Degree in English from Emory. In 1966, she opened the Alpharetta City Library and then went to work at the Milton High School library in 1970, where she was a pioneer in audio visual equipment. In 1992, the media center at MHS was named the Myrl Hansard Media Center in her honor. Aside from being a devoted wife for 63 years, she was a devoted mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend. She leveraged her interest in civic affairs by becoming the first woman council person in the city of Alpharetta. As an active member of Alpharetta First United Methodist Church, she continued to teach her beloved Phidelis Class until the week before experiencing a massive stroke, even though she suffered from debilitating macular degeneration and usually memorized her lesson with the aid of a reader. To all who knew her, she was the essence of beauty, intelligence, humility, compassion, spirit, and grace. She was preceded in death by her husband, sister, Hester Martin, brother, Cecil Chafin, son, Vic Hansard, Jr., granddaughter, Kathryn Meyer, and grandson, Vic Hansard III. She is survived by daughters and son in law Bonnye Woodlief of Marietta, Marnee Hansard of Atlanta, Hollye and John Letourneau of Tucker, sons and daughter in law, Kit and Cheryl Hansard of Fishers, IN, Kerry Hansard of Jonesboro, Wade and Kathy Hansard of Roswell, 10 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. The Celebration of Life service will be 5/1/2013, 10:30 am at the Alpharetta First United Methodist Church, N. Main St., Alpharetta, GA 770-475-5576. Dr. Don Martin, Dr. Hal Brady, Dr. Joe Bowen, and Rev. Jonathan Woodlief will be officiating. The family will receive friends Tuesday evening from 6:00-8:00 in the fellowship hall at the Methodist Church. In the spirit of giving in which Myrl lived, she continued after death by donating her body to Emory School of Medicine. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or the Alpharetta First United Methodist Church.

Myrl Chafin Hansard

February 7, 1918 - April 26, 2013