Direct, outgoing, smart and incredibly funny were just a few ways to describe Marilynn Mobley’s personality.
“She was curious, always wanted to know stuff,” said her husband, Ralph Mobley.
Her curiosity led her to begin working in journalism. At the age of 16, Mobley began working for the Blackshear Times in Pierce County as a cub reporter. A position where she would find her passion for writing.
“She was very creative,” he said her husband.
Mobley harvested her passions for writing and creating in the field of communications and public relations, taking a job with Atlanta Gas Light as a communications specialist, before spending 17 years working for IBM. She then established her own business, Acorn Consulting, Inc., where she provided public relations support to Fortune 100 companies.
Ann Cramer of IBM said that while working with Mobley she observed “the adoration, the pleas, the constant requests of senior executives for Marilynn to prepare a script, to write a speech, or to put together a press release.”
Mobley had a way with words that “would make even the most reserved of our ‘wing-tipped, white shirt, conservative tie’ executives sparkle with personality,” Cramer said.
She was one of the first graduates of Waycross College. Always a student, she also earned degrees in both political science and journalism from the University of Georgia.
Her quick wit and sense of humor helped her graduate from the PunchLine comedy club class. “She rocked the house and once and for all claimed her comedic talent,” said Cramer.
Marilynn Eugenia Tanner Mobley died Sept. 19 of cancer. She was 57. A memorial service was held at H.M. Patterson & Son Arlington Chapel, 173 Allen Rd N.E., Sandy Springs on Friday. H.M. Patterson & Son were also in charge of arrangements.
Mobley was the author of the book titled “The Scoop on Media Interviews” and became a motivational speaker and mentor to many.
In her final career move in 2006, Mobley joined the public relations firm Edelman, where she helped spearhead the firm’s global training program for its employees.
Regional president of Edelman Southeast, Steve Behm, said five generations attended her memorial service. “She had the ability to connect with a lot of people.”
Ralph Mobley said, “She was my best friend.”
Their daughter Katy remembered her mother as the person who truly believed in her. “She had unwavering confidence in me,” she said. “She would always say, ‘Until you can believe in yourself, I believe in you.’ ”
In addition to her husband and daughter, Marilynn Mobley is also survived by daugher Sydney Mobley, of Alexandria, Va.; mother, Lillian Moye Tanner and her twin sister Marikaye Tanner Hyers and other siblings Norris Tanner, Janice Tanner Sweat and Neil Tanner, all of Waycross, Ga.
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