Grace Cromley Harper

Mrs. Grace Cromley Harper died peacefully while listening to her favorite violin music on October 28, 2015, with her two daughters at her bedside. At the young age of 97, Mrs. Harper was diagnosed with cancer and faced each medical procedure and cancer treatment with determination and optimism. Mrs. Harper's "never give up" attitude was evident throughout her long life.

Grace Estelle Cromley, born July 14, 1916, in Brooklet, Georgia, to Estelle Lee and Charles Spurgeon Cromley, was the first of three children. She attended public schools in Brooklet and college at South Georgia Teacher's College (now Georgia Southern University). She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music in 1937.

Grace's lifelong love of music began as a young girl, when her mother taught her to play piano and her father bought her a violin. In college, she continued to study piano and violin, as well as many other instruments. After graduation, Grace became a public school music teacher and band director in Douglas, Georgia, where she met Glenn Harper at a local dance. They married two years later, in 1939, and shared 62 years together, until Glenn's death in 2001. Throughout his long life, Glenn had a successful career in the insurance business. The Harpers had two daughters, Bonnie Glenn and Linda Lee. The Harper family called many places home, Waycross, Albany, New Orleans and Macon, before eventually settling in Atlanta, in 1956. In 1968, the Harper's welcomed the birth of their only grandchild, Susan Harper Mitchell. Grace and Glenn were devoted to their children and granddaughter, often traveling to South Carolina, Virginia and Maine, for extended family visits.

Mr. and Mrs. Harper joined Peachtree Road United Methodist Church in 1956, where Grace remained a prominent member of the church family for nearly six decades. Until very recently, Mrs. Harper often played hymns on the piano for her Friendship Class at Peachtree Road. Over her many years as a member of the congregation, Grace was very active in women’s work at the church, serving on the Altar Guild and other committees. For several years, she served as Music Chairperson for the United Methodist Women in Atlanta. During the 1970s, Mrs. Harper was a member of the Board of Trustees for the United Methodist Children's Home.

In addition to her work at the church, Grace volunteered as a "Pink Lady" with the Auxiliary Service at Emory University Hospital, working in the gift shop several days a week. After 25 years of service, which included eight years as Co-Chairperson, Grace finally retired from the Auxiliary.

Mrs. Harper's many hobbies included piano, gardening, cooking, sewing and travel. She was an active member of the Four Seasons Garden Club of Brookhaven for 42 years. In 1965, Grace joined a piano duet club and continued to play duets well into her 90s. In 1980, the Harpers bought a condominium in Hilton Head, where they spent many happy vacations with friends and family. From 1980-1993, Grace and Glenn hosted small tour groups that visited many destinations around the world. In the spring of 2001, Grace moved to Lenbrook Square, where she was a resident for nearly 15 years. In addition to participating in many events, Grace was member of the Friends of the Arts committee and the Lenbrook Chorus.

Mrs. Harper was blessed to become a great-grandmother in 2001, and she cherished every moment with her two great-grandsons, Mitchell Harper Adams and Cullen Sturges Adams.

Mrs. Harper is survived by her loving family, Linda and Ron Mattern of Greenville, SC, Bonnie and Charles Walstrom of Cumberland, ME and Susan, Eben, Mitchell and Cullen Adams of South Portland, ME. Grace will also be missed by extended family in Georgia and Alabama, as well as many friends at Peachtree Road United Methodist Church and Lenbrook Square.

A celebration of Mrs. Harper's life will be held at Peachtree Road United Methodist Church on Monday, November 2 at 1 o’clock. In lieu of flowers, charitable donations can be made to Peachtree Road United Methodist Church (prumc.org) or the United Methodist Children's Home (umchildrenshome.org). The family will receive friends Sunday afternoon, November 1 from 3 until 5 at H.M. Patterson & Son, Oglethorpe Hill, 4550 Peachtree Road, NE, Brookhaven, Georgia, 30319.