Rexann Hulsey, age 80, of Murrayville, Ga., passed away at home on July 28, 2016 after an extended illness. Rexann was a lifelong resident of Hall County. She was born in Gainesville, Ga. on August 20, 1935 to Rex and Addie Coker. She attended Lyman Hall High School where she was a member of the basketball and cheerleading teams.
She married Arnold Hulsey on May 24, 1950. In their 62 years of marriage, they raised three children and enjoyed celebrating four grandchildren. In 1965 she made a wedding cake for her cousin which launched a lifelong career as an event caterer. For two and a half decades, she contributed to the celebration of many weddings, birthdays, anniversaries and special events in the lives of those in Hall and surrounding counties. She taught cake decorating classes throughout the surrounding counties and co-owned the Gingerbread House, a catering supply business in Gainesville.
She was a member of St. Paul United Methodist church on Washington Street in Gainesville. For the past two decades she served as the building facilitator and hostess. She and her “Kitchen Crew” prepared many wonderful Wednesday night suppers along with meals for all church events.
She was the matriarch of her family and her home was the central gathering place for many special family events. Extended family from across the country felt welcomed and loved any time they came in to town. She hosted wonderful parties in her home until the end of her life. Her home was always full of family, friends, stories, and laughter, as well as delicious food. Everyone who came to her home had a favorite dish and she made sure it was on the table. For many years she hosted an enormous Easter egg hunt for the family and children from her church (and whoever else wanted to show up). The hunt included a beautiful egg tree, thousands of hidden eggs, an appearance by the Easter bunny, and plentiful amounts of food.
She is survived by: sons Steve Hulsey of Murrayville and Stuart (Lisa) Hulsey of Lawrenceville and daughter Carolyn (Barty) Simonton of Lawrenceville; grandchildren Blake (Stephanie) Hulsey of Cleveland, Sydney (Justin) Babb of Auburn, Abby Hulsey and Emily Hulsey of Lawrenceville, nephew Dwight Hurley of Murrayville, cousins Donna (Tilman) Kinney of Gainesville, siblings Dennis Coker, Barbara (Bill) Hames and Ralph (Kathy) Coker, special nieces and nephews Denise Farmer, Deidre (Kevin) Spivey, Joe Ann Coker, Katherine (Chris) Shaver, Melanie Hames, Mike (Peggy) Coker, Roger Farmer, Brent (Jackie) Staley, and Barrett (Jenny and Chloe) Staley.
She is preceded in death by her husband Arnold Hulsey of Murrayville, her parents, and her siblings Quillian (Elizabeth) Coker, Carolyn Coker, Lee Coker, Eleanor Coker, LaNell (Herbert) Farmer, Margie (Clinton) Hurley, and nieces Delores Wilkerson and Teresa Smith.
Funeral Services are scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Monday August 1, 2016 at St. Paul United Methodist Church. The Rev. Calvin Haney, Rev. Geoff Grubbs and Dr. Andrea Cook will officiate. Interment will follow at Hopewell United Methodist Church. The family will receive friends from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Paul United Methodist Church bell chime fund, 404 Washington Street, Gainesville, GA 30501.
Condolences may be made online at wardsfh.com Ward's Funeral Home 758 Main Street S.W. Gainesville in charge of arrangements.
