Elizabeth Nunn Mori
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Betty Nunn Mori of Atlanta, GA,
age 84, passed away December 4,
2020, at home of natural causes.
A beloved wife, mother, grandmother
and friend, Betty was a positive, loving and wise presence for her family and many friends.
Born on October 28, 1936, and raised in Perry, GA, Betty was the daughter of the late Samuel Augustus Nunn and the late Elizabeth Cannon Nunn.
Betty attended Perry High School,
where she enjoyed academics,
cheerleading and other activities.
Betty credited the Perry schools for
her lifelong love of reading and
learning and the Perry Methodist
Church for her spiritual foundation.
Betty's upbringing in the close-knit
Perry community shaped her values
and relationships throughout her life.
In her youth, she cherished
Sunday afternoon drives to the family
farm with her father, Sam, and growing up close to her cousins in Perry and in Cordele, GA.
Betty attended Wesleyan College for
two years and then Emory University,
where she graduated in 1958 with a
BA in English and was a member of
Alpha Delta Pi sorority. Betty
cultivated dear friendships in her
college years and actively supported
both schools throughout her life.
After graduation, she married Jean
Mori on June 14, 1958, and they
had a wonderful, 62-year marriage
and true partnership.
Betty taught school for several years
and then focused her energy on
raising her three children, Liz, John
and George. In 1971, she and Jean
co-founded Mori Luggage & Gifts
in Atlanta. Betty was an integral part
of the company's leadership,
serving as vice president and
merchandise buyer until her
retirement in 2007. Working together
as a team, Betty and Jean were
instrumental in creating a supportive,
enjoyable culture for the family
business. Through her work in the gifts industry and with the National
Luggage Dealers Association, Betty
forged lasting professional and
personal relationships throughout
the country.
Betty was a leader in civic and
community affairs throughout her life.
From 1990 until her death, she was
a trustee of Wesleyan College, where
she chaired several committees and
served on a presidential search
committee. In 2008, Betty was
awarded the Wesleyan
Distinguished Alumna Award by the
Wesleyan Alumni Association. As the
representative for Georgia's 5th
District on the State Board of
Technical and Adult Education from
1990-1996, Betty took great fulfillment from her work on policy for the state's technical schools, as well as the state's adult literacy program and the Quick Start program for
economic development.
Betty also served on the boards of
the Georgia Conservancy, the Ethics
Board of Emory University, the
Kessler Reformation Collection at
Pitts Theology Library of Emory
University, and the Emory Board of
Visitors. Betty was a long-time member of ARCS Atlanta and Northwood Garden Club and an active volunteer in the Lutheran Church and Fulton County Public Schools. Betty and Jean received several awards from Day 1 Alliance for Christian Media and from Lutheran Services of Georgia.
With her sparkling, blue eyes and
contagious laugh, Betty was admired
for her friendliness, quick wit and
sense of humor. She was a
lively conversationalist and a spirited
presence at any social gathering.
Betty had an extraordinary memory for people, places and events. In her role as unofficial family historian, Betty told entertaining stories that will be passed down for generations. She had a gift for nurturing connections with family and friends and especially
enjoyed the bi-annual Vinson family
reunions.
Betty had many talents. She avidly
pursued her passions for reading
and intellectual curiosity and
treasured her book group
community for over 40 years. Betty
was a generous hostess, extending
warmth and hospitality to everyone.
She greatly enjoyed cooking,
knitting, puzzles and bridge and was
talented at all of these endeavors.
Most of all, Betty was a stalwart and
loving partner to Jean and a
devoted mother. She delighted in
every interaction with her eight
grandchildren and always had a funny joke or story to share with them.
Betty is predeceased by her
husband, Jean Mori, who died
December 1, 2020, her beloved first cousins: Henry S. Jennings, Joe Cannon Jennings, Robert Mansfield Jennings and Nancy Cannon Boyles. She is survived by her children, Liz Mori Lauer (Peter), John Mori (Anne),
and George Mori (Katie) and eight
grandchildren Katherine, Austin and
Sam Lauer, Rankin and John Mori
and Elizabeth, George and Cannon
Mori. Betty is also survived by her
brother, Sam Nunn (Colleen), and
brother-in-law, George Mori (Brigitte),
of Jackson, MS, and beloved nieces
and nephews, Michelle Nunn, Brian
Nunn, Karen Mori Bonner, and Mark
Mori.
A virtual service celebrating the lives
of Betty and Jean is planned for
December 12, 2020 at 11:00 a.m.
Friends and family may join the
service at https://www.redeemer.org/
worship/worship-online/
Contributions in Betty's memory may be made to Wesleyan College, 4760 Forsyth Rd., Macon, GA 31210, www.wesleyancollege.edu/ or Lutheran Church of the Redeemer,
731 Peachtree St. Atlanta, GA 30308, www.redeemer.org