Charlene June Hannah Long

Charlene June Hannah Long passed away peacefully in her sleep after a battle with cancer on Thursday, March 23, 2023. Born November 2, 1948, in Vancouver, Washington, to James F. Hannah and Lilith Jean(ie) Allen Hannah, Charlene spent most of her childhood in Clinton, Tennessee before moving to Cartersville, Georgia in 1964. She considered Cartersville her home and returned after retirement with her husband of 51 years, Griffin Long.

After graduating Cartersville High School in 1966, she was among the first students to attend what is now Kennesaw State University while she worked at the telephone company. However, the largest part of her career was spent in Atlanta at Melvin S. Roos & Co., Inc. where she worked until her retirement 10 years ago. Her work friends became like family to her with their relationships lasting decades, blurring the lines between friendship and family.

To know her was to know she loved reading a good book (especially the works of her daughter), watching a good movie, enjoying television, traveling, listening to 1960s music, spending time with friends and family, and being a mother to everyone she met. A member of Tabernacle Baptist Church, she was generous with her time, volunteering for various causes. She was particularly passionate about ending hunger, finding a cure for Alzheimer’s and cancer, as well as anything that benefited children rising out of poverty.

She loved children and became an avid fan of video games in the 1980s as a way to relieve stress. One of her proudest moments was completing level 50 on the game River Raid for the Atari, leaving her thumbs sore playing Super Mario Brothers, or trying to best her own high score on computer solitaire while talking to her daughter on the phone. She loved humorists, local theater, feeding a crowd, and enjoying the ballpark watching her nieces and nephews play. Whatever she did, she did it with love, empathy, competitiveness, and a sense of humor.

Charlene is pre-deceased by her parents; brothers Frank Hannah and Fred Hannah; as well as various other relatives by blood and marriage. She is survived by her husband Griffin Long of Cartersville, Georgia; daughter Rebecca Ione Long of Eugene, Oregon; sisters Patti Day of Atlanta and Barbara (Russell) Walker of Rydal; and brothers James (Barbara) Hannah of Chatsworth; Randy (Diane) Hannah of Cartersville; and Bobby Hannah of Rydal. Others include her Aunt Bessie Ashby of Camas, Washington; Uncle Chuck (Carolyn) Allen of Camp Sherman, Oregon; cousins Roy (Joyce) Ashby of Ocean Park, Washington, Kay Sedlak (Ken) of Milwaukee, Oregon, and Mary Coen of Carson City, Nevada; as well as 28 nieces and nephews, various great nieces and nephews, and some great-great nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life Service will be conducted at twelve o'clock in the afternoon on Wednesday, the 29th of March, 2023 in the chapel of Owen Funeral Home with Rev. James Hannah and Rev. Kenny Jacobs officiating.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family for one hour prior to service time at Owen Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you give to the American Cancer Society or to an organization you are passionate about, be kind to one another, and make someone smile in honor of Charlene. May her memory be a blessing.

Please visit www.owenfunerals.com to post tributes and sign the on-line register book.

Owen Funeral Home, 12 Collins Dr., Cartersville, GA 30120 is honored to serve Mrs. Long's family.