Mattie (Arthurlene) Hansard

Arthurlene was born in Forsyth County Georgia on November the third, 1931 and lived all of her 91 years here in Cumming. 

Arthurlene was preceded in death by her husband, of 72 years,J. Rodney Hansard. 

She is survived by her children, Stephen J. Hansard, and his wife Deborah, Sarah LaVerne Hansard, Arthur “Vernon” Hansard and his wife Cindy, and Lisa Kelly Hansard. Additionally, Arthurlene is survived by nine grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. 

Arthurlene Hansard’s father passed away before she was born, so she moved with her mother to her mother’s family farm. There she spent her childhood up till the age of 20. There Arthurlene learned how to work hard, take on any task needed and, very importantly, to find fun in the process.  And that she did. After graduating from high school she also took on the first public job she had. She became a furniture saleswoman at Drake’s Furniture. She left there to become a dental assistant in the office of Cumming’s only dentist, Dr. A. Y. Howell. It was at this job that she met Rodney Hansard who admitted that he had scheduled an appointment primarily to meet the lovely dental assistant working there. The appointment led to a marriage that stood the test of time. Rodney and Arthurlene were faithful members at the Cumming Church of God where they held a number of positions. They both saw to it that their children learned the necessity of accepting Jesus Christ as their only means of salvation, and the one we should serve in all that we do.

Over the course of her life Arthurlene taught so many other values such as commitment to what you promise, living out your faith in God as an example, not just something you talk about, and always remembering what God blesses us so that we can be a blessing to others. 

Arthurlene found joy in her love of her family and in those around her she could help. She also found joy in crocheting, solving word puzzles, and making and eating homemade ice cream. In fact she was an excellent cook. 

I know that I am running out of room to describe what a wonderful person Arthurlene Hansard was, and yet I haven’t even begun to do justice to the legacy she created nor to the treasures we gained by having her as a mother, a faithful friend and mentor, and a kind and loving person who truly lived her life for the good of others. We live in a time where the lessons she taught and the faithful integrity which characterizes her life will be rediscovered and in turn carried forward to yet another generation.