Age: 75 yrs.
D/O Luther M. Johnson & Grace Mildred (McNeer) Johnson
1st W/O John Selman Pennington (4 Sep 1924-23 Nov 1980); m 21 Jun 1951, Hendersonville, Henderson County, North Carolina, USA; div
M/O Penny Gail Pennington
M/O Jeffrey Lynn (Pennington) Tapia
M/O John Stuart Pennington
Last Residence: Marietta, Cobb County, Georgia 30066, USA [SSDI]
Obituary, The Atlanta (GA) Journal-Constitution, 15 Jun 2006, by Holly Crenshaw:
Marilyn Pennington, 75, writer, studied Native Americans' life
On dusty digs across the South, Marilyn Pennington unearthed delicate reminders of civilizations past.
Something unexpected happened, though, while she was rooting around in that ancient dirt. She became less concerned with the artifacts and more intrigued by the people who had made them.
"It was such a fascinating turn of events when she started to move from an archaeological perspective to more of an anthropological understanding," said her daughter, Jeffrey Pennington Tapia of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Ms. Pennington worked for Georgia's Department of Natural Resources and helped excavate archaeological sites across Georgia and the Carolinas, her daughter said.
"At some point, though, when she realized that Native American groups, and Cherokees in particular, were protesting the digs because their sacred burial grounds were being dug up, she gave up her digs to better understand their concerns."
Ms. Pennington, 75, of Smyrna died of complications from cancer on Friday at Northside Hospital. The body was cremated. The memorial service will be 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church. Woodstock Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
The Bluefield, W.Va., native earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Georgia in 1950, then moved to Smyrna with her then-husband, the late journalist John Pennington.
She started as a full-time reporter at The Marietta Daily Journal, but switched to freelance writing when her children were born. She exhibited her textured, abstract paintings at the Piedmont Park Art Festival, sold antiques at Scott Antique Market and in her 40s earned a master's degree from UGA.
Her freelance articles often dealt with the Cherokees. She spent months living among them, conducting interviews and studying their language.
The outspoken writer enjoyed firing off letters to politicans and debating current events over the dinner table.
In 1993, when the Cobb County Commission declared "gay lifestyles" incompatible with community standards, she said in an Atlanta Journal-Constitution article, "The things the politicians do like this that are so damn dumb, that's what gets them labeled rednecks by national magazines."
Three years ago during a Cherokee stomp dance in Oklahoma, Ms. Pennington contracted a virus that led to Guillain-Barre syndrome. Overnight, her daughter said, Ms. Pennington was paralyzed from the shoulders down.
With her curiosity and intellectual vigor as robust as ever, she read Tony Hillerman and Elizabeth Peters novels for fun --- dragging her hand to turn each page, the only movement she could muster. She was more excited, though, by the Christmas present she put at the top of her list, "The Dictionary of the Timucua Language."
Carol S. McCanless of Oxford knew Ms. Pennington before and after the illness --- observing her keen observational skills and unflagging energy on digs together, then bringing newspaper clippings to help her stay current after she was paralyzed.
"She was really fascinated by all aspects of humanity --- by what our history is and what makes us who we are as people," Mrs. McCanless said.
"She was so intense, though, that she could almost rub you the wrong way if you had a different opinion," she said. "But I think I realized how much depth she had after she got sick. She had this well of strength in her that had nothing to do with her physical self."
Survivors include another daughter, Gail Pennington of Marietta; a son, John Stewart [Stuart] Pennington of Woodstock; and seven grandchildren.
D/O Luther M. Johnson & Grace Mildred (McNeer) Johnson
1st W/O John Selman Pennington (4 Sep 1924-23 Nov 1980); m 21 Jun 1951, Hendersonville, Henderson County, North Carolina, USA; div
M/O Penny Gail Pennington
M/O Jeffrey Lynn (Pennington) Tapia
M/O John Stuart Pennington
Last Residence: Marietta, Cobb County, Georgia 30066, USA [SSDI]
Obituary, The Atlanta (GA) Journal-Constitution, 15 Jun 2006, by Holly Crenshaw:
Marilyn Pennington, 75, writer, studied Native Americans' life
On dusty digs across the South, Marilyn Pennington unearthed delicate reminders of civilizations past.
Something unexpected happened, though, while she was rooting around in that ancient dirt. She became less concerned with the artifacts and more intrigued by the people who had made them.
"It was such a fascinating turn of events when she started to move from an archaeological perspective to more of an anthropological understanding," said her daughter, Jeffrey Pennington Tapia of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Ms. Pennington worked for Georgia's Department of Natural Resources and helped excavate archaeological sites across Georgia and the Carolinas, her daughter said.
"At some point, though, when she realized that Native American groups, and Cherokees in particular, were protesting the digs because their sacred burial grounds were being dug up, she gave up her digs to better understand their concerns."
Ms. Pennington, 75, of Smyrna died of complications from cancer on Friday at Northside Hospital. The body was cremated. The memorial service will be 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church. Woodstock Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
The Bluefield, W.Va., native earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Georgia in 1950, then moved to Smyrna with her then-husband, the late journalist John Pennington.
She started as a full-time reporter at The Marietta Daily Journal, but switched to freelance writing when her children were born. She exhibited her textured, abstract paintings at the Piedmont Park Art Festival, sold antiques at Scott Antique Market and in her 40s earned a master's degree from UGA.
Her freelance articles often dealt with the Cherokees. She spent months living among them, conducting interviews and studying their language.
The outspoken writer enjoyed firing off letters to politicans and debating current events over the dinner table.
In 1993, when the Cobb County Commission declared "gay lifestyles" incompatible with community standards, she said in an Atlanta Journal-Constitution article, "The things the politicians do like this that are so damn dumb, that's what gets them labeled rednecks by national magazines."
Three years ago during a Cherokee stomp dance in Oklahoma, Ms. Pennington contracted a virus that led to Guillain-Barre syndrome. Overnight, her daughter said, Ms. Pennington was paralyzed from the shoulders down.
With her curiosity and intellectual vigor as robust as ever, she read Tony Hillerman and Elizabeth Peters novels for fun --- dragging her hand to turn each page, the only movement she could muster. She was more excited, though, by the Christmas present she put at the top of her list, "The Dictionary of the Timucua Language."
Carol S. McCanless of Oxford knew Ms. Pennington before and after the illness --- observing her keen observational skills and unflagging energy on digs together, then bringing newspaper clippings to help her stay current after she was paralyzed.
"She was really fascinated by all aspects of humanity --- by what our history is and what makes us who we are as people," Mrs. McCanless said.
"She was so intense, though, that she could almost rub you the wrong way if you had a different opinion," she said. "But I think I realized how much depth she had after she got sick. She had this well of strength in her that had nothing to do with her physical self."
Survivors include another daughter, Gail Pennington of Marietta; a son, John Stewart [Stuart] Pennington of Woodstock; and seven grandchildren.
Age: 75 yrs.
D/O Luther M. Johnson & Grace Mildred (McNeer) Johnson
1st W/O John Selman Pennington (4 Sep 1924-23 Nov 1980); m 21 Jun 1951, Hendersonville, Henderson County, North Carolina, USA; div
M/O Penny Gail Pennington
M/O Jeffrey Lynn (Pennington) Tapia
M/O John Stuart Pennington
Last Residence: Marietta, Cobb County, Georgia 30066, USA [SSDI]
Obituary, The Atlanta (GA) Journal-Constitution, 15 Jun 2006, by Holly Crenshaw:
Marilyn Pennington, 75, writer, studied Native Americans' life
On dusty digs across the South, Marilyn Pennington unearthed delicate reminders of civilizations past.
Something unexpected happened, though, while she was rooting around in that ancient dirt. She became less concerned with the artifacts and more intrigued by the people who had made them.
"It was such a fascinating turn of events when she started to move from an archaeological perspective to more of an anthropological understanding," said her daughter, Jeffrey Pennington Tapia of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Ms. Pennington worked for Georgia's Department of Natural Resources and helped excavate archaeological sites across Georgia and the Carolinas, her daughter said.
"At some point, though, when she realized that Native American groups, and Cherokees in particular, were protesting the digs because their sacred burial grounds were being dug up, she gave up her digs to better understand their concerns."
Ms. Pennington, 75, of Smyrna died of complications from cancer on Friday at Northside Hospital. The body was cremated. The memorial service will be 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church. Woodstock Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
The Bluefield, W.Va., native earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Georgia in 1950, then moved to Smyrna with her then-husband, the late journalist John Pennington.
She started as a full-time reporter at The Marietta Daily Journal, but switched to freelance writing when her children were born. She exhibited her textured, abstract paintings at the Piedmont Park Art Festival, sold antiques at Scott Antique Market and in her 40s earned a master's degree from UGA.
Her freelance articles often dealt with the Cherokees. She spent months living among them, conducting interviews and studying their language.
The outspoken writer enjoyed firing off letters to politicans and debating current events over the dinner table.
In 1993, when the Cobb County Commission declared "gay lifestyles" incompatible with community standards, she said in an Atlanta Journal-Constitution article, "The things the politicians do like this that are so damn dumb, that's what gets them labeled rednecks by national magazines."
Three years ago during a Cherokee stomp dance in Oklahoma, Ms. Pennington contracted a virus that led to Guillain-Barre syndrome. Overnight, her daughter said, Ms. Pennington was paralyzed from the shoulders down.
With her curiosity and intellectual vigor as robust as ever, she read Tony Hillerman and Elizabeth Peters novels for fun --- dragging her hand to turn each page, the only movement she could muster. She was more excited, though, by the Christmas present she put at the top of her list, "The Dictionary of the Timucua Language."
Carol S. McCanless of Oxford knew Ms. Pennington before and after the illness --- observing her keen observational skills and unflagging energy on digs together, then bringing newspaper clippings to help her stay current after she was paralyzed.
"She was really fascinated by all aspects of humanity --- by what our history is and what makes us who we are as people," Mrs. McCanless said.
"She was so intense, though, that she could almost rub you the wrong way if you had a different opinion," she said. "But I think I realized how much depth she had after she got sick. She had this well of strength in her that had nothing to do with her physical self."
Survivors include another daughter, Gail Pennington of Marietta; a son, John Stewart [Stuart] Pennington of Woodstock; and seven grandchildren.
D/O Luther M. Johnson & Grace Mildred (McNeer) Johnson
1st W/O John Selman Pennington (4 Sep 1924-23 Nov 1980); m 21 Jun 1951, Hendersonville, Henderson County, North Carolina, USA; div
M/O Penny Gail Pennington
M/O Jeffrey Lynn (Pennington) Tapia
M/O John Stuart Pennington
Last Residence: Marietta, Cobb County, Georgia 30066, USA [SSDI]
Obituary, The Atlanta (GA) Journal-Constitution, 15 Jun 2006, by Holly Crenshaw:
Marilyn Pennington, 75, writer, studied Native Americans' life
On dusty digs across the South, Marilyn Pennington unearthed delicate reminders of civilizations past.
Something unexpected happened, though, while she was rooting around in that ancient dirt. She became less concerned with the artifacts and more intrigued by the people who had made them.
"It was such a fascinating turn of events when she started to move from an archaeological perspective to more of an anthropological understanding," said her daughter, Jeffrey Pennington Tapia of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Ms. Pennington worked for Georgia's Department of Natural Resources and helped excavate archaeological sites across Georgia and the Carolinas, her daughter said.
"At some point, though, when she realized that Native American groups, and Cherokees in particular, were protesting the digs because their sacred burial grounds were being dug up, she gave up her digs to better understand their concerns."
Ms. Pennington, 75, of Smyrna died of complications from cancer on Friday at Northside Hospital. The body was cremated. The memorial service will be 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church. Woodstock Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
The Bluefield, W.Va., native earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Georgia in 1950, then moved to Smyrna with her then-husband, the late journalist John Pennington.
She started as a full-time reporter at The Marietta Daily Journal, but switched to freelance writing when her children were born. She exhibited her textured, abstract paintings at the Piedmont Park Art Festival, sold antiques at Scott Antique Market and in her 40s earned a master's degree from UGA.
Her freelance articles often dealt with the Cherokees. She spent months living among them, conducting interviews and studying their language.
The outspoken writer enjoyed firing off letters to politicans and debating current events over the dinner table.
In 1993, when the Cobb County Commission declared "gay lifestyles" incompatible with community standards, she said in an Atlanta Journal-Constitution article, "The things the politicians do like this that are so damn dumb, that's what gets them labeled rednecks by national magazines."
Three years ago during a Cherokee stomp dance in Oklahoma, Ms. Pennington contracted a virus that led to Guillain-Barre syndrome. Overnight, her daughter said, Ms. Pennington was paralyzed from the shoulders down.
With her curiosity and intellectual vigor as robust as ever, she read Tony Hillerman and Elizabeth Peters novels for fun --- dragging her hand to turn each page, the only movement she could muster. She was more excited, though, by the Christmas present she put at the top of her list, "The Dictionary of the Timucua Language."
Carol S. McCanless of Oxford knew Ms. Pennington before and after the illness --- observing her keen observational skills and unflagging energy on digs together, then bringing newspaper clippings to help her stay current after she was paralyzed.
"She was really fascinated by all aspects of humanity --- by what our history is and what makes us who we are as people," Mrs. McCanless said.
"She was so intense, though, that she could almost rub you the wrong way if you had a different opinion," she said. "But I think I realized how much depth she had after she got sick. She had this well of strength in her that had nothing to do with her physical self."
Survivors include another daughter, Gail Pennington of Marietta; a son, John Stewart [Stuart] Pennington of Woodstock; and seven grandchildren.
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