Marilyn Cater Harlin, 83, of Amelia Island, Florida went home to be with her Lord on November 21, 2021.

She was born to the late Franklin Edward Cater and Nell Paris Cater in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Marilyn was a member of the Church of the Good Shepherd and attended Lookout Mountain Grammar School where she was the 8th grade May Queen. She then went to Girls Preparatory School where she was in the National Honor Society and was Maid of Honor to the May Queen.

After graduation in 1956 she went to Vanderbilt University. There, she was a member of Tri-Delta Sorority and was an education and biology major. While a freshman at Vanderbilt she met the love of her life, Sewell Comer Harlin, Jr. After they both had graduated, they were married in November of 1960.

After their marriage they traveled a great deal during Sewell’s time in the Navy and because of his work requirements as a civil engineer in industrial construction. They lived in 18 different locales during their first 20 years of marriage. While living in Chisholm, Minn. they adopted their daughter, Elizabeth Paris and while living in Ft. Smith, AR, they adopted their son, Scott. They also lived on Nonoc Island, Philippines before settling in Birmingham, AL where they lived for some 18 years before retiring to Amelia Island in 1997.

An educator by training, Marilyn taught at a Montessori School in Melrose, MA and taught 4th grade in Atlantic Beach, FL. She also served as a substitute teacher in many of the places where they lived. However, by her nature, she was a homemaker and mother first.

She was a lady who was strong in her faith. She always loved bible study and was very involved in Community Bible Studies in Birmingham and Amelia Island. She also served as a Deacon and was on the Evangelism Committee at First Presbyterian Church in Fernandina Beach and at Amelia Plantation Chapel.

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by two grandchildren, Jessica Marilyn Harlin and James Zachery Harlin and her younger brother, Edward Cater, Jr.

Left to cherish her memory are her husband of 61 years, Sewell C Harlin, Jr., her daughter, Elizabeth Paris Harlin Wyatt; her son, Scott Comer Harlin; five grandchildren, Hannah Holsomback Griffin, Jordan Elizabeth Holsomback, Johnathan Wilson Sewell Holsomback, Justin Scott Harlin and Joshua Christian Harlin and three great grandchildren, Marilyn, Nolan and Logan.

A service to remember and celebrate her life will be held Wednesday, December 1, 2021, 11:00AM at Amelia Plantation Chapel with Rev. Dr. Conrad Sharps officiating.

The family asks she be remembered by donations in Marilyn’s name to The Parent Help Center, P.O. Box 60722, Jacksonville, FL 32236 or ALS Association Florida Chapter, 3242 Parkside Center Circle, Tampa, Florida, 33619