When friends speak of Marie Orman, they always comment on her grace, her ladylike demeanor and her love for others. Marie Middleton Orman passed away at her home Dec. 16.
The retired teacher who taught French to so many students and introduced them to the charm and traditions of France as well as the language, graduated from Newberry College in 1942.
She began her teaching career in South Carolina, then moved to Georgia, where she taught in Thomson, Cochran, Perry and finally, Statesboro.
Upon moving to Statesboro in 1966, she became a member of Trinity Episcopal Church. She was also involved with civic organizations and served as president of the Statesboro Pilot Club, president of the Statesboro-Georgia Southern Symphony Guild and as treasurer of the Statesboro-Georgia Southern Symphony Board.
"She was the epitome of a lady," said long-time friend and fellow teacher Sally Daniel. "She was as gracious a person as you'll ever meet. She always had something good to say about everybody."
"She taught me French," said Laura Topping. " I feel like I've known her all my life. We spent every Thanksgiving with them for years since high school. She was a wonderful woman who made a big impression on everybody."
Orman made an impact on Statesboro as well. She was a member of the Statesboro Library and Regional Library boards and a member of the Georgia Southern University Foundation. She was chosen as Statesboro High School's STAR Teacher of the Year in 1969 and received the Deen Day Smith Service to Mankind Award in 1995.
Orman also served as Statesboro High's Criterion advisor for 22 years, and was an accomplished pianist and organist, said Alice Christmas, a long-time friend. "She played the organ in her father's church and in most of the churches where she had lived. She and I came to Statesboro at about the same time and she was a good friend.”
"She was one of my dearest friends," said Cynthia Anderson. "She was what you would call a genuine class act. There was no pretense - everybody was on the same level as she was, and she oozed a lot of character."
A memorial service will be held today at 3 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church in Statesboro.
“As a teacher, Marie saw something good in just about every student she ever taught,” Christmas said. “Likewise, she saw something good in just about every person she ever met. She was a great lady."
Daniel recalled how she and Orman would have breakfast at Snooky's every Friday morning, and how the restaurant owner Bruce Yawn mentioned that tradition to her upon Orman's passing. "She meant a great deal to me," she said.
"She was a very intelligent, wonderful teacher, and students loved her," Anderson said. "She was very humble, and had a knack for making others feel good about themselves,"
The retired teacher who taught French to so many students and introduced them to the charm and traditions of France as well as the language, graduated from Newberry College in 1942.
She began her teaching career in South Carolina, then moved to Georgia, where she taught in Thomson, Cochran, Perry and finally, Statesboro.
Upon moving to Statesboro in 1966, she became a member of Trinity Episcopal Church. She was also involved with civic organizations and served as president of the Statesboro Pilot Club, president of the Statesboro-Georgia Southern Symphony Guild and as treasurer of the Statesboro-Georgia Southern Symphony Board.
"She was the epitome of a lady," said long-time friend and fellow teacher Sally Daniel. "She was as gracious a person as you'll ever meet. She always had something good to say about everybody."
"She taught me French," said Laura Topping. " I feel like I've known her all my life. We spent every Thanksgiving with them for years since high school. She was a wonderful woman who made a big impression on everybody."
Orman made an impact on Statesboro as well. She was a member of the Statesboro Library and Regional Library boards and a member of the Georgia Southern University Foundation. She was chosen as Statesboro High School's STAR Teacher of the Year in 1969 and received the Deen Day Smith Service to Mankind Award in 1995.
Orman also served as Statesboro High's Criterion advisor for 22 years, and was an accomplished pianist and organist, said Alice Christmas, a long-time friend. "She played the organ in her father's church and in most of the churches where she had lived. She and I came to Statesboro at about the same time and she was a good friend.”
"She was one of my dearest friends," said Cynthia Anderson. "She was what you would call a genuine class act. There was no pretense - everybody was on the same level as she was, and she oozed a lot of character."
A memorial service will be held today at 3 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church in Statesboro.
“As a teacher, Marie saw something good in just about every student she ever taught,” Christmas said. “Likewise, she saw something good in just about every person she ever met. She was a great lady."
Daniel recalled how she and Orman would have breakfast at Snooky's every Friday morning, and how the restaurant owner Bruce Yawn mentioned that tradition to her upon Orman's passing. "She meant a great deal to me," she said.
"She was a very intelligent, wonderful teacher, and students loved her," Anderson said. "She was very humble, and had a knack for making others feel good about themselves,"