Ethel Martin Caras

Ethel Martin Caras was born May 19, 1917 in Macon, Georgia to the late D.S. and Emma Lee Martin. She was the eldest of nine children. She was preceded in death by her husband, James Nickolas (Jimmy) Caras; sisters, Rose Tomai, Ruth Robinson, Marie Sauls and brother, Emory Martin.

She will be remembered as a loving daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother.

She is survived by her daughter and son in law, Elaine and Ronnie Waller; granddaughter, Jennifer Frischen and her husband Andrew of Bluffton, South Carolina; grandson, Jim Waller and his wife Angelia of Santa Rosa, Florida; two great granddaughters whom she adored, Weslin Kate Waller and Katelin Caras Waller; sister, Mildred Pritchard, brother, David Martin and his wife Joyce as well as a number of nieces and nephews.

As a successful restauranteur and caterer, she and her husband Jimmy enjoyed serving the community for many years at their restaurants – The Mayflower and the Imperial. She catered numerous parties, banquets and weddings with style and perfection. She was a gracious hostess, a gourmet cook, and an avid bridge player, a Girl Scout leader, a member of Music Club, Investment Club, Arts Study Club, Lanier Women’s Club, Beta Sigma Phi, and a Smoky Springs Ambassador. She was a member of St. Michael Catholic Church where she had at one time been the organist.

She had a zest for life, filling every second of living with fun and enthusiasm. She enjoyed meeting new people and traveling to new places. She loved nothing better than being surrounded by friends and family at a dinner table where conversation and laughter prevailed. She was a true Southern lady and an inspiration to all who knew her. Her greatest joy was telling people about her grandchildren, and great granddaughters; she always enjoyed sharing photos of them when friends asked about family.

The family would like to express sincere gratitude to her caregivers Andrea Tilmuth, Karen Castle, Pam Branch and Shuwanna Redding and special friends Lisa Hanie and Patrick Stringer for their love and support.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, June 8, 2018 in the Chapel of Memorial Park North Riverside. Interment will follow in Alta Vista Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday, June 8, 2018 from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m.

Flowers will be accepted, but for those wishing to make donations in Mrs. Caras' memory, donations can be made to Humane Society of Northeast Georgia, 845 Ridge Road, Gainesville, Georgia 30501; Eagle Ranch, P.O. Box 7200 Chestnut Mountain, Georgia 30502; Mount de Sales Academy, 851 Orange Street, Macon, Georgia 31201-2164; or to a charity of your choice.

Memorial Park North Riverside Chapel Funeral Home, 989 Riverside Dr., Gainesville, GA  30501 770-297-6200 is in charge of arrangements.

Send online condolences to www.memorialparkfuneralhomes.com.