Mercedes Norris Youmans

Mercedes Norris Youmans, 63, of 618 Dogwood Circle, Sandersville, died at her residence Wedneday, April 7, after a faith-filled year battle with cancer.
Services for Mrs. Youmans will be held Saturday, April 10, at 2:00 PM in the First Baptist Church of Sandersville where she was Organist/Accompanist for the last twenty-three plus years. The Reverend Mark Carter, the Reverend Rick Freeman, and her husband, Rev. Donald R. Youmans officiated. Graveside services will be held on Sunday, April 11, at 2:00 PM at Hillcrest Abbey Cemetery in Savannah, Georgia. Members of the Pure Praise Choir of First Baptist Church Sandersville will serve as the Honorary Escort.
Mrs. Youmans was a native of Savannah, GA, the daughter of the late Mercer Elkins Norris and Hilda Tyson Norris. She graduated from Savannah High School and, as a student, played the organ for services at Mickve Israel Synagogue in Savannah, GA.
She was a cum laude graduate of Wesleyan College in Macon, GA, earning a Bachelor of Music with a concentration in Piano. She earned a Master of Education from the then Georgia College in Milledgeville, Ga.
Mrs. Youmans began her teaching career at Arkwright Elementary School and Southwest High School in the Atlanta City School System as an elementary school music teacher and high school choral director. While her husband served as Pastor of the Willacoochee Charge in Atkinson County, Mrs. Youmans taught in Alapaha with the Berrien County School System.
She began her teaching career in Washington County in 1983 teaching seventh and eight grade language arts at T. J. Elder Middle School. While teaching at T. J. Elder Middle School she was recognized as one of the the Most Cooperative Teachers School-Wide for the school terms, 1985-1986 and 1986-1987. She was recognized as the Employee of the Month in May, 2000 and in March, 2006. She retired from the Washington County School System in June, 2006.
She accepted a position at Brentwood School, teaching seventh and eight grade language arts until she took a leave of absence, due to her illness, in June, 2009. While at Brentwood School, she was the Drama Coach and taught a drama class, directing the One-Act Plays for competition, as well as presenting other plays during the school year. She was a co-founder of the Brentwood School Fine Arts Festival, held annually in the Spring, showcasing the Arts of Vocal Performance, both solo and groups, Piano Performance Art, Dance, and Drama.
Mrs. Youmans was an accomplished organist/pianist throughout her life. She taught Private Piano Lessons from her home for seventeen years in Washington County. Her students, Sandersville’s Joyful Sounds, played annually in the Junior Music Festival held each Spring, sponsored by the Sandersville Music Club of which she was a Sustaining Member. She was an active participant in the Sandersville Music Club’s Musicals and Cavalcade of Stars productions over the years. She will be perhaps best remembered as the delightful, Reba Nell Bazemore, in the Music Club’s “KUDZU” series of musicals. She went on to take an active part in The Sandersville Community Theatre Musicals. She was a co-music director for “Lil Abner” and accompanied the show on piano. She served as a vocal coach for other shows as well. With her husband, she was a Patron of the Rosa M. Tarbutton Library through The Transylvania Club, the Washington County Concert Association, and The Sandersville Community Theatre.
As the wife of a United Methodist Minister, Mercedes was an integral part of her husband’s ministry. She was organist/pianist for the Lakewood Heights United Methodist Church in Atlanta and later for the Conyers United Methodist Church, Conyers, GA, while her husband was a student at the Candler School of Theology, Emory University, in Atlanta, GA.
She served as organist/pianist in the following churches while her husband was Pastor: First United Methodist Church, Moultrie, GA; the Leary Charge comprised of the Leary, Cordray Mill, Milford, and Damascus United Methodist Churches; Trinity United Methodist Church, Savannah, GA; First United Methodist Church, Lancaster, SC; the Willacoochee and Beulah United Methodist Churches, Willacoochee, GA; and the Tennille United Methodist Church, Tennille, GA. Mercedes and Don presented a number of “Sermons in Song” in churches across the South Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church
Mrs. Youmans was a member of the Sandersville United Methodist Church. She was recognized by First Baptist Church Sandersville in a Celebration Concert on October 11, 2009, for 23 Plus Years of service to the Music Ministry of the Church as Organist/Accompanist. For many years she accompanied not only the Adult Choir but also the Youth Choir and regularly accompanied them on their summer tours and missions of ministry. She was a spirit-led organist, pianist, and accompanist. Through her playing of organ and piano music, she led many to practicing the presence of God in worship, as she used the talent and gifts given to her by God.
Mercedes will be remembered for her servant heart for Music Ministry, her contagious smile, her zest for life, her devotion to her students, both academic and musical, her unselfish giving of herself to those whom she and her husband served in ministry of the Gospel through the United Methodist Church.
Survivors include her husband of 41 years, the Reverend Donald R. Youmans of Sandersville, four sons and daughters-in-law and eight grandchildren: Kevin and Cheryl Youmans, Greenville, SC; Jonathan and Jessica Youmans, and Skylar, Caleb, Zander, and Annalise of Fletcher, NC; Jason and Selena Youmans, and Jacob of Apex, NC; Brian and Eunice Youmans, and Isabella, Maddie, and Eli of Seaford, DE; her sister and brother-in-law, Patricia and Ricky Duffy of Savannah, GA; her nephew, Ty Duffy of Savannah, GA and niece, Mary Ann Duffy of Savannah, GA; her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Bob and Ann Youmans of Vashon, WA; her nephew, Scott and SuzyYoumans, and Savannah, and Syrel of Bothell, WA; and her niece, Kristin Billings of Belfair, WA.
The family will be at the Youman’s residence in Sandersville and will receive friends Friday from 5PM until 7PM at the May & Smith Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials be given to the donor’s church or favorite charity; to Brentwood School, P. O. Box 955, Sandersville, GA 31082; or memorial tributes to www.CaringBridge.org/ visit/mercedesanddon.

May and Smith Funeral Home in Sandersville is in charge of the arrangements.