Anne Otwell

Martha Anne Newsome Otwell, a longtime resident of the Decatur area, passed away peacefully at home on Monday, September 2, 2025. She was 85.

Born in Albany, Georgia, in 1939, Anne was the cherished only child of Jefferson Coleman Newsome and Martha Mountcastle Newsome. She grew up in South Georgia, graduating from Albany High School in 1957, before moving to Atlanta to attend Agnes Scott College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in English in 1961.

After graduating, Anne taught high school English in DeKalb County. During this time, she married Raymond Cyril Otwell, Jr. of Bremen, whom she met while on a college trip. Anne later stepped away from teaching to raise their children and devoted herself fully to her family, making a warm and loving home near Decatur, where she lived for the remainder of her life.

Anne was dignified, kind, intelligent, and deeply caring - a devoted wife, mother, and friend. She was known for her gentle spirit, thoughtful manners, and hospitality. Her home was always filled with beauty - paintings by grandmothers and close friends, cherished antiques passed down through multiple generations, and the tangible love of her family.

She fostered a deep appreciation for literature and the arts in her children, encouraging reading, music, and creativity. A frequent visitor of the Avis G. Williams Library near Toco Hill for over fifty years, Anne also volunteered in local school libraries and was active in her children's schools as a PTA member, band parent, and soccer mom.

After her husband Ray's untimely passing at the age of 49, Anne returned to the workforce as a single mother. She found meaningful work at the Emory Employee Assistance Program, where she provided confidential and compassionate support to Emory University employees - giving back to the very program that had supported her during her own time of need.

Anne was a faithful member of Oak Grove United Methodist Church for over five decades and part of the Hope Sunday School Class. Her faith, friendships, and dedication to community were central throughout her life.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband. She is survived by her children: Raymond Otwell, III, Jefferson Otwell, and Elizabeth Otwell Holland; her son-in-law Geoffrey Holland; her niece Amy, nephew Andrew, beloved cousins, and many dear friends.

The family will receive visitors Thursday, September 11, 2025, from 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. at A.S. Turner &Sons Funeral Home & Crematory, 2773 N Decatur Rd Decatur, GA 30033. A funeral service will be held at Oak Grove United Methodist Church,1722 Oak Grove Rd Decatur, GA 30033, beginning at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, September 12, 2025, followed by burial at Floral Hills Memory Gardens, 3150 Lawrenceville HWY. Tucker, GA 30084, where she will be laid to rest beside her husband.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Oak Grove United Methodist Church Library, in honor of Anne's lifelong love of reading and learning.