Hahn, Betty
HAHN, Betty
In the early hours of Friday, July 16, 2021, a force of nature and remarkable woman, Betty Burch Hahn left us all.
Betty was a rare and gifted woman who believed in the pursuit of perfection, and loved with the ferocity of a lioness. The oldest of three daughters, she became mother to her sisters (Burma and Beth) at the age of 25 following the untimely death of their parents. She relocated without question from Savannah, Georgia to Atlanta, Georgia, to care for and finish rearing the two of them along with their only other child, Quentin.
"Motherhood" would be the theme of her life.
Once her sisters fled the nest, she relocated back to Savannah and assumed the role of proprietress of the Hahn properties, an apartment building, carriage house, and cottage in the heart of historic downtown. There, she became Mother to many, many young art students, as the Savannah College of Art and Design began to grow. Night and day, as they came in and out, she listened, she guided, she laughed, she cared for and about them all
Over the years, Betty was known for her immense creativity, graciousness, and commitment to beauty. Her dinner parties were legendary, and everything she touched, was an honest pursuit of perfection. She opened their historic home and gardens freely to the Savannah Tour of Homes and decorated countless other homes for this and other special events. From installing over 15 live Christmas trees in a choir loft for a wedding to hand sewing galax leaves for groom's table cloth, she was, by nature, an artist. But she was also a force of nature, a self-made woman who lifted her skirts to run the marathon of life with style and grace.
Betty was also known for her humor and candor. She was immense fun, incredibly funny, wise, and in unexpected ways, understanding and achingly kind. But most meaningfully… she taught us all, "Fierce Love." It is a thing. An immoveable, amazing, and deeply important… rather the most important… thing, for which we are eternally grateful.
Betty Burch Hahn was the daughter of the late Mr. Lovett Leslie Jr. and Mrs. Mardine Anderson Burch of Atlanta, Georgia; granddaughter of the late Mr. George Felton and Mrs. Pearl Vaughan Anderson and of the late Reverend Lovett Leslie and Mrs. Clara Askew Burch.
She was a graduate of Fulton High School in Atlanta and Georgia State University, where she was a member of Delta Zeta sorority. In Atlanta and later in Savannah she served tirelessly in multiple organizations including the Atlanta Ballet, The Children's School, the Savannah Ballet, the Bethesda Home for Boys Ladies Board, the Garden Club of Downtown Savannah, the American Association of University Women, and the Colonial Dames of America.
Betty is survived by her "passionate love at first sight" and husband of 54 years, Dr. William George Hahn and their feline Masters, Bonnie, Lillie, Violet and Rose; son-in-law and daughter, Dr. Leo Victor and Mrs. Quentin Hahn Warshauer; grandchildren Josephine Trudie, Hugo Willem and August Albert Warshauer; sister Ms. Burma Burch; brother-in-law and sister, Mr. Fred Gahr and Mrs. Beth Burch Young; nephew and niece Mr. Lovett Gahr and Mrs. Lisa Greene Young; nephew and niece Mr. David Benjamin and Mrs. Rebecca Ruth Schaffer; special lifelong friends Mr. Victor Hugo and Mrs Rebecca Crouch Hobbs.
A private memorial reception will be held December 4 at her residence in Wilmington, North Carlina. Those who wish should make donations in Betty's memory to their favorite conservation or animal welfare charity.
