Sandra H. Mercier: Obituary

Sandra Mercier

November 18, 1946 – November 10, 2018

Mrs. Sandra H. Mercier passed away Saturday, November 10, 2018 at her home. She was 71. Mrs. Mercier was born in Copperhill, TN on November 18, 1946 to the late Ralph Harper and Ruth Edith Wilson Harper. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Blue Ridge and was a beloved educator with the Fannin County School System. She was a classroom teacher for 26 years before going on to be an assistant principal and then the director of curriculum. In 2002 she became the Superintendent of Fannin County Schools. She was the first woman to serve in that role in the district’s history. After she retired, she continued to serve the Fannin County School System as a member of the Board of Education for six years, including service as vice-chair and chair.

She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Tim Mercier; daughters, Melissa Mercier (David) Lillard and Amanda Mercier (Joseph Foster) all of Blue Ridge; and grandchildren, Sgt. Zachary Mercier Lillard, Annabell Lee Lillard, and Alexandria Grace Foster.

A service to honor the life of Mrs. Mercier was held on Monday, November 12, 2018 from the Chapel of Akins Funeral Home with Rev. Michael Brunson officiating. Interment followed in Chastain Memorial Park with the following gentlemen serving as pallbearers: Bill Walden, Bill Prather, Mark Henson, Benny Long, Larry Culpeppper, and Howard Slaughter. Serving as honorary pallbearers were: Speaker David Ralston, Jack Morton, Phil Kendall, Michael Gwatney, Jerry Tammen, Lucas Roof, Gary Harper and Billy Nichols. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Fannin County Scholarship Fund (www.fanninscholarship.com/donate or P.O. Box 1883 Blue Ridge, GA 30513). Condolences may be made online at www.akinsfuneralhome.com. Akins Funeral Home of Blue Ridge was in charge of arrangements.