Valdosta, GA - Marilyn Ruth Hubert Kemper was a devoted mother and grandmother, a trusted friend, and a cutthroat game player. She lived a life filled to the brim with joy, love, perseverance, and humor. She will always be remembered for her quick wit, her big laugh, and her hilarious quips.

Marilyn treasured her childhood and often recounted stories of growing up in Atlanta and Marietta. Her stories were filled with humor and color, and showcased the character that Marilyn was right from the start. She had a big imagination and an even bigger personality. She swung on kudzu vines, rode horses bareback, and gained the legendary nickname "Teewaddie"-a made-up word she used frequently.

Marilyn would always remember her college years at the University of Georgia as the best times of her life. She was an avid Dawgs fan, a cherished member of the Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority, the sweetheart of Sigma Nu, and a campus socialite-well-known to her peers only by her childhood nickname. If you asked for Marilyn Hubert on the Georgia campus in 1958, few would have known who you were talking about, but "Teewaddie" was known campus-wide.

Marilyn married William "Buddy" Kemper, Jr. in 1963. They had two sons, William Edward Kemper III, "Will," and Thomas Garrett Kemper, "Garrett". Marilyn was a wonderful mother to her boys and loved them fiercely all her life. When she and Buddy eventually divorced, Marilyn devoted her life to raising her sons and faced the challenges of motherhood with an easy grace. While she cherished the time spent raising her boys, she also found time to foster deep, meaningful friendships in all of the places she lived and traveled. A pro at multitasking, Marilyn was an expert at making sure her sons were cared for while never missing a social event.

After her sons were grown, Marilyn found new joy and purpose as a grandmother. First, to her granddaughter Corrin, and then to her twin grandchildren, JT and Kitty. Marilyn loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren with a depth that was easily felt. Corrin often spent entire summers with Marilyn at the beach. The two had a special bond and shared many memories and adventures. Marilyn would later reminisce on those times with Corrin, saying simply, "We had a run!"

Marilyn was a true testament to the power of friendship. She never met a stranger, so whether you had known her for decades or days, she cherished you like a close and trusted friend. Her friendships spanned continents, state lines, generations, and decades, and she nurtured them diligently throughout her life. The love she had for her friends knew no bounds, and this love was reciprocated by all who knew her. To know Marilyn was to love her. Whether it was her quick wit, her hilarious and innumerable stories, her loyalty, or her zeal for life, she was the type of woman who drew you in and never let go.

To all her friends: Marilyn wanted you to know how much each of you meant to her, how much she loved you, and how grateful she was for you. Until her final days, your FaceTimes, calls, cards, flowers, and friendships meant the world to her. You kept her smiling until the very end, and for that, the Kemper/Hubert/Patiño family is eternally grateful.

Marilyn lived life with humor and humility, but she was no stranger to loss and heartbreak. She was preceded in death by her Mother, Ruth Swann Hubert, her father, Otis Collie (OC) Hubert, her sister Judith Hubert Manning, and her eldest son Will-a loss she never fully recovered from. Marilyn's steadfast Christian faith kept her heart at peace, knowing she would one day be reunited with her loved ones. This faith and her relationship with the Lord were the foundations on which she built her life.

Marilyn is survived by her siblings, Richard Hubert (Linda) and Deborah Hubert (Richard); her son, Garrett Kemper (Krista); her grandchildren, Corrin Kemper Patiño (Juan), Katherine "Kitty" & John Thomas "JT" Kemper; three great-grandchildren, Kora Neyland, Audra Rice, and Aya Patiño; and her nieces and nephews.

We love and miss you, Mom, Grandmother, Grandmarilyn, GiGi, WaterMarilyn, Teewaddie, Marilyn. Thank you for all the love, all the laughs, and all the stories. We will speak of you fondly and often, and we will carry you in our hearts all the rest of our days.

We would like to express our deepest gratitude to the nurses of the Huntsman at Home hospice program. Their compassion, care, and guidance allowed Marilyn to pass peacefully in the arms of those she loved. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your local Hospice organization.