Jeanne Kolter
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JEANNE Garland Kolter - Jeanne Garland Kolter, 89, passed in peace July 22, 2020 at her home in Austell, GA. She was born April 17, 1931 in Johnson City, Tennessee, the daughter of Donald Lynn and Chlora Anne (Deaton) Garland.
Jeanne graduated from Carson-Newman University in 1953 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. She spent most of her adult life teaching in the Mableton and Austell communities. She began her Cobb County School District tenure at Green Acres and Mableton Elementary Schools before joining the first teaching faculty of the new Floyd Junior High School in 1965 and helping to name their first mascot, Greenwaves. Their first principal, T.J. Hatcher, drew fond memories for Jeanne in her early career. Eventually, Jeanne would continue her career at South Cobb High School serving as an English teacher. She was involved in many of the school's clubs and activities including serving as the school's yearbook advisor alongside her husband, Herman Kolter, who was also on faculty and served as the school's photographer.
It was in 1973 that her love for South Cobb's band program blossomed. She began helping alongside newly appointed band director, Freddy Martin, and a 40-plus year career of serving thousands of band students in a supportive and volunteer role ensued. During her tenure in this role she was seen as a vital and inspirational figure in the school's band program. She eventually retired from the Cobb County School District in 1996 but continued her role with the band until the early 2000s. In 2004, the community and school district recognized her significance and contributions to the school's band program by naming the new band building in her honor as the "Jeanne Kolter Band Building." In 2005, she was invited (begged) to return to the program to continue leading and inspiring. In 2009, she helped the program apply and earn acceptance to represent the State of Georgia in the 2009 Presidential Inaugural Parade of President Barack Obama. While many hands made the dream reality, the accomplishment was rooted in her decades of hard work and relationship building. She proudly watched the band march down Pennsylvania Avenue including her grandson, Killian, who played trombone in the band.
In addition to her parents and her husband, Herman, Jeanne is also predeceased by her younger brother who passed in infancy. She is survived by sons Herman George Kolter, III, Donald Lynn Kolter, Joseph Frederic Kolter and one daughter, Anne Kolter Perdue; grandchildren, Joseph Michael Perdue, Adam Kolter Perdue, Rachel Anne Perdue, and Killian Joseph Kolter. She was also proud of her six great grandchildren. A service of remembrance will be held at a future date. Those who wish to remember Jeanne in a special way are asked to make donations to the South Cobb Band Booster Club in her name.
Jeanne was a stranger to no one in the Austell and Mableton communities and beloved by thousands of people whose lives she touched. For those that knew her, Jeanne was an angel walking among us who embodied all aspects of love and kindness.
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