Marion White Linder

Martinez, GA - Marion White Linder, 60, of Augusta, Georgia died at her home on December 12, 2009 of a malignant brain tumor. She is survived by her husband Dr. Charles Linder, her mother Betty Sims, a sister and brother-in-law April and Paul Cory, children Charlene Dockery and Pamela Thomas, mother-in law Polly Linder, sister-in-law Ann Linder, son-in-law Michael Dockery, grand children Drew Thomas, Wade Thomas, Lara Dockery and Lee Dockery, nieces Summer Raehm and Carter Bertram and nephew Collin Bertram, and many loving uncles, aunts and cousins. She is predeceased by her father, Charlie Reid, and step father, Leroy Sims.
Marion was born on July 3, 1949 in Millen Georgia. She lived in Statesboro and Savannah prior to spending most of her life in Augusta where she attended public schools graduating from The Academy of Richmond County. She also attended Augusta College. She was active in the Augusta Arts Council and the Augusta Players in which she won a Best Actress Award for Gypsy and received The Augusta Players President's Award for her service to that organization.
Her lifelong love of fashion began as a teenage employee of J.B. White Department store where she eventually rose to the position of Fashion Director. She later served as the Fashion Director for the Augusta Mall. Her work led to the production of hundreds of fashion shows, television presentations and public relation events including such popular events as Designer Showcase, Rainbow Revue, and The Children's Hospital Gala. She organized and served as Regional Director of the J. B. White and Augusta Mall Teen Fashion Boards. Marion used this opportunity to improve the lives of young women and young men and to promote the value of volunteerism. She had a special talent for planning, organizing, staging and narrating special events. This talent was used as a dedicated volunteer for numerous charities especially those benefiting children. She was a founding board member of the Ronald McDonald House and served on the Safe Homes Board, Junior League Advisory Liaison and The Augusta Coalition for Children and Youth. She did volunteer work for the American Cancer Society, The Shelter for Abused Children, United Way, Leukemia Society, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Alzheimer's Association, American Diabetes Association, Camp Rainbow, Arts in the Heart of Augusta, Junior League Festival of Trees and numerous other nonprofit organizations. She served 24 years as a co-host for the Children's Miracle Network Telethon and was a member of the Community Advisory Committee for the design of the Medical College of Georgia Children's Hospital. Marion's extensive involvement in the community and her love of charity work led to many awards including the Golden Rule Award, Outstanding Fundraising Volunteer, Friend of Children Award, and The 2009 James Bennett Advocate of the Child Award.
Memorial services will be held at 2:00pm on December 16, 2009 at the First Baptist Church of Augusta, 3500 Walton Way Extension Augusta, GA 30909, Dr. Jeff Flowers and Dr. Rodger Murchison officiating. Burial will be private.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 PM on December 15, 2009 at Platt's Funeral Home 337 North Belair Road, Evans, Georgia 30909.
Pallbearers will be Rich Cavanagh, Paul Cory, Bill Kanto, Nick Shaw, Tom Shown, and Tom White. Honorary pallbearers will be Charles Moody, Tom Green, Richard Rogers, Michael Ash, Doug Vopel, Wendell Moore, Randy Burnett, Jeff Carroll, Nick Amato, Danny Haywood, Charlie Byrn, and Ronnie Strength.
In lieu of flowers contributions in memory of Marion can be made to the Linder Endowed Chair of Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Georgia 30912.