Amy Grace Gary Whipple

Born at Crawford Long Hospital in 1990 in Atlanta, GA. Amy Grace was the oldest of two daughters of Rev. Mary E. Arban and Michael W. Gary. She graduated with honors from North Oconee High School and furthered her passion for education by making the Dean’s List and the President’s List of Athens Technical College. She also attended Augusta Technical College on a full Zell Miller Scholarship. Amy Grace, also known as “Grace” or “Gracie,” was a lover of the arts and a gifted singer, musician, and dancer who participated in the Piccolo Spoleto Festival in S.C. She was also celebrated as a talented soprano in the Georgia Children’s Chorus and sang in the chorus for four years. One of her greatest passions was helping others around her. She was an avid advocate for mental health, a lover of animals, and would often support children with special needs as she volunteered after school as a counselor for the “HERO” program at North Oconee H.S. She was also a certified lifeguard, and she spent time caring for elders as a certified nursing assistant. Grace’s passion for helping others was infectious, as she founded online support groups for women to foster an uplifting environment for encouragement. Her aspiration was to go back to school and become an Occupational Therapist Assistant.

Her final act in life honored this desire to help others through the gift of organ donation, which has blessed over two hundred lives already. A lover of nature and family, Grace’s favorite place was the beach, especially the annual New Smyrna Beach vacations with the Gary family. She had also recently performed in multiple songs in the annual Outdoor Passion Drama, “His Last Days,” which was founded by her adoring grandmother, Carole Murphy, 39 years ago and is held in Tallulah Falls, GA. Her favorite way to pass time would be snuggling her cats, “Cam” and “Chance” with her husband, Ian Whipple. One of her greatest joys was getting married on July 8th to the love of her life whom she had spent the last 10 years with. Her gentle spirit, kindness of character, and strength of love has eternally touched the lives of all who knew her.

She is preceded in death by her paternal grandfather, Dr. Robert Gary, or “Pops,” from Atlanta, GA. She is survived by her parents, Mike and Mary; her husband, Mr. Ian James Whipple; her younger sister Miriam Murphy-Gary; maternal grandparents, Rev. Robert Murphy Sr. and Carole Murphy; paternal grandmother, Janet Gary; several aunts, uncles, cousins, many friends, and extended family.

A memorial service will be held Thursday, October 6, at 2:00 p.m. at Athens First United Methodist Church, 327 N. Lumpkin St., Athens, GA 30601, with Rev. Jeremy Lawson, Officiant.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to defray medical and funeral expenses. To give directly you may click the following link to a website where you can easily and securely donate. Or if you would prefer to make your donation in person, checks will be accepted at Athens First United Methodist Church after the service:

https://gofund.me/94061cf6

Mary Arban would like you to support Help with Memorial Expenses:

https://gofund.me/2263b13a

Bernstein Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.