Rita C. Castleberry Mrs.

Rita Cleary Castleberry, lovingly known as “Ms. Rita,” joined her husband, son and brother (Gerard Cleary) in Heaven on Sunday morning, February 23rd, 2014. Rita was born in Columbia, Missouri in 1928, but spent most of her life as a native of Georgia. She attended the University of Wisconsin in Madison where she earned her degree in Speech Pathology and later a Masters degree in Education at Georgia State University. She was a member of the Theta Phi Alpha Sorority. As a child, she traveled abroad with her French mother to study in Nice, France. Her high school years were in New York at Bronxville HS and she remained close to several of her friends. In her yearbook she was known as “Rit the wit,” because of her intelligent humor. Rita traveled by train to the South for her first teaching job in Athens, GA and met her husband of 50 years, Attorney Arthur Castleberry of Thomaston, Ga. She raised three children, Christine, Jeannie and Tommy and enjoyed being a stay at home mom but active in Girl Scouts, PTA, Bridge Club and activities for her children. She returned to teaching in the Cobb, Dekalb and Gwinnett school systems until her retirement in 1991. Her six grandchildren kept her busy, but she continued to be active in the Gwinnett Senior Center, serving as President, Bethesda Methodist Church and traveling with her husband. She moved to Del Mar Gardens, independent living in 2011 and continued to remain active with exercise classes, trivia, and social events. She loved reading the AJC and Time magazine and following UGA football. Rita was a true educator and believed education was the key to success. She was proud of her grandchildren achieving 6 undergraduate degrees, 3 masters degrees, 1 law degree and a Medical Degree. Rita is survived by five young, precious great grandchildren. A viewing is scheduled at Wages Funeral Home, 1031 Lawrenceville Highway, Lawrenceville, Wednesday, February 27, 6:00 - 8:00 pm. A Christian service is scheduled in the Wages and Sons chapel on February 28, at 1:00 p.m. A reception will follow At Del Mar Gardens, 3100 Club Drive, Lawrenceville at 3:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bethesda United Methodist Church in Lawrenceville for the Children’s Fund.