Marilyn Ann Coley Wadsworth

Marilyn Ann Coley Wadsworth, 74, of Rockmart, joined the great cloud of witnesses on March 18, 2025 after many years of declining health. 

Marilyn was born December 1, 1950 in Gadsden, Alabama, daughter of the late John Arnold Coley, Sr. and the late Hazel Nell Chamblee Coley. She grew up in Gadsden, graduated from Emma Sansom High School and attended Jacksonville State University. She was a Baptist Student Union summer missionary in Alabama in 1971 and in Israel in 1972. She was a member of Heritage Baptist Church in Cartersville. Prior to ill health, she had been a realtor and had taught private piano students, and she had been involved in the music ministry of churches where her husband served as pastor. 

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by brothers Horace Charles “Sonny” Coley, John Arnold “Johnny” Coley, Jr., and David Coley, and twin sister Carolyn Ruth Coley. 

She is survived by her husband of 51 years, Rev, Lamar Wadsworth, to whom she was married on June 3, 1973, three daughters, Linda Victoria Wadsworth Garey (Michael) of Baltimore, Melissa Ann “Missy” Wadsworth of Rockmart, and Tammy Marie Wadsworth Thompson of Rome, five grandchildren, James Thompson (Jamie), Michael Garey Jr., John Pershing Garey, Annah Nash, and Jackie Joseph Austin; one great-grandchild, Ember Thompson; one sister, Martha Coley Moore (Harry) of Hoover AL, and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday March 22 at Heritage Baptist Church, 1070 Douthit Ferry Rd. in Cartersville with Dr. Alex Gallimore and Rev. Robyn Rhodes officiating. The ashes will be interred under the sheltering tree on the church grounds with Rev. Lee Hollingshed doing the committal. The family will greet friends following the service. 

The family requests in lieu of flowers that memorial gifts be given to Heritage Baptist Church, the Global Missions Offering of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, or Baptist Women in Ministry. (Memorial gifts to the CBF Global Missions Offering or Baptist Women in Ministry can be given through Heritage Baptist Church). 

The Alvis Miller & Son Funeral Home & Crematory of Rockmart has charge of the arrangements.