Mary Jabaley Arp

Mary Nabeha Jabaley Arp, age 70, of Blue Ridge, GA peacefully passed away early morning on Monday, September 16th. She was born on September 21, 1948 in Copperhill, TN. She was preceded in death by her parents, Angeline Yarid Jabaley and Ellis Jabaley, and her brother, Robert Jabaley. Survivors include Morgan Arp, her loving husband, children Christie Gribble and Thomas Arp, and her sister Carolyn Ippisch. Her family was her world, and her family stretched broadly! She has many many cousins that she adored.
Growing up, Mary worked in her family's department store, John Jabaley & Sons, in downtown McCayville, GA until it flooded in 1990. The building is now Burra Bura on the River.
Mary attended Epworth Elementary, West Fannin High School, and spent her final year at St. Genevieve Catholic girl's school in Asheville, NC. She received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Tennessee and a Master's in Education from the University of North Georgia. Mary started her career as a social worker in Atlanta. After a couple of years, she moved back home and spent the majority of her career as an art teacher in Fannin County Elementary Schools, being known as "Mrs. Art". During all this time, she created lifelong friendships and blessed many with her kindness.
Mary's Lebanese heritage was also extremely important to her. In the late 1800's her grandparents settled in Copperhill, TN. Even up until her last week, she was making delicious Lebanese food and hosting dinner parties. She was known for her meat pies (fatiya)– they were the best! Mary was a world traveler and even visited Lebanon in the early 70s.
Mary was a devout Catholic and grew up going to St. Catherine Laboure in Copperhill, TN. Mary had an extremely strong faith in God and the Church, and St. Catherine's remains a special place to the family. Mary spent 15 years as a volunteer for Our Lady of Perpetual Help Home in Atlanta, GA and 20 years with the Divine Mercy Society raising money for the poor.
The family will receive friends at the Henry-Cochran Funeral Home of Blue Ridge, Thursday, September 19, 2019, 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm. The funeral mass will take place on Friday, September 20, 2019 at 10:00 am at St. Catherine Laboure (270 Main Street, Copperhill, TN 37317).
In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer donations in memory of Mary Jabaley Arp to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Home (760 Pollard Blvd. SW, Atlanta, GA 30315) or St. Catherine Laboure Catholic Church (PO Box 1165 Copperhill, TN 37317).