Mrs. Yvonne Ledford McNelley, age 67, of Blue Ridge, GA, passed away on November 30, 2019 in the Emory University Hospital, following a 15 year battle with kidney cancer. She was surrounded by her closest family and friends. Yvonne was born in Blue Ridge, GA on January 30, 1952. Yvonne was a member of the Cherry Log Christian Church. Yvonne and her husband Richard owned and operated five movie theaters for more than 34 years in both Georgia and North Carolina. In overlapping years, she co-owned the Video Den and owned and managed a steakhouse restaurant in Ellijay for 14 years. Early in her professional career, Yvonne served as City Clerk of the City of Blue Ridge. She was instrumental in the construction of the Fannin County Courthouse and Jail complex during her tenure as a Fannin County Commissioner and directed the day to day operations of the County when there was a sudden vacancy in the chairmanship. A graduate of Brenau University, she coordinated after school educational programs for children in conjunction with Georgia Highlands and later served for a number of years as a legal assistant with Doss & Doss Attorneys. Yvonne was a skilled caterer and enjoyed making special events even more so. Yvonne was a people person and a teacher at heart, who would seize upon opportunities to help others. She employed many area high school students and loved to engage younger students in math games in the form of calculating the amount due for a concession stand order or how much change was due. She worked with the recreation department to provide outings during summer camps and provided movie passes to be utilized as positive rewards for local schools. Yvonne loved to travel - be it across the mountains, across the state or around the world. She especially enjoyed any destination that included the sun, sand and the sea. Yvonnes dream was to establish a food bank that would be available to assist local families. Having chosen the name "Marmie" (after the mother in Little Women) for her grandchildren to call her, Yvonne established "Marmies Mission" earlier this year to fulfill this goal. Survivors include her husband of 46 years, Richard McNelley; daughter and son-in-law, Vanessa McNelley-Neal and husband James of Atlanta; son and daughter-in-law, Wesley and Amanda McNelley of Blue Ridge, GA; parents, Gene and Jane Ledford of Blue Ridge, GA; sisters, Linda Joan Hembree of Suwanee, GA and Monica Denise Ledford of Cherry Log, GA; grandchildren, Rylie Springer, Eva McNelley, Claudia Neal, Madison Moore and Nathaniel Moore. Funeral services were conducted on Tuesday, December 3, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. from the Akins Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Hal Panter and Rev. Monica Denise Ledford officiating. Eulogies were offered by Vanessa McNelley-Neal and Lynn Doss. Music was provided by Sally Ann Jones Nichols. Pallbearers were Ryan Hembree, Eric Watkins, Chandler Ledford, Michael Eaton, Tate Eaton, Justin Dover, Harry Doss III, Max Doss, Philip Doss, and Preston Smith. Entombment will follow privately in the McKinney Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family strongly suggests that donations be made to the food pantry that was lovingly created by Yvonne -- Marmie's Mission, P.O. Box 173 Blue Ridge, GA 30513. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.akinsfuneralhome.com. Akins Funeral Home of Blue Ridge, GA was in charge of the arrangements. . Visitation Akins Funeral Home - Blue Ridge Monday, December 02, 2019 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM 7871 Blue Ridge DriveBlue Ridge, Georgia 30513 Directions Funeral Service Akins Funeral Home - Blue Ridge Tuesday, December 03, 2019 2:00 PM 7871 Blue Ridge DriveBlue Ridge, Georgia 30513 Directions