Martha "Ebbie" Evelyn Cassell

Martha Evelyn Daniels Cassell died May 23, 2026, at her home in Johns Creek, Ga. She was born in Ramsey, Virginia, on Dec. 29, 1931, the sixth of eleven children born to John William and Myrtle Victoria (Stidham) Daniels.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Don Stuart Cassell; son-in-law Don Michael Williams; grandson Daniel Knight Williams; and siblings Charles Lonnie Daniels, James David Daniels, Constance Hope (Daniels) Begley, Gladys Rosalie (Daniels) Begley, Mable Pauline Daniels, Hazel Anne (Daniels) Watts, Thomas Vincent Daniels, John William Daniels, Jr., and Mildred Josephine (Daniels) Bentley. Survivors are her son Don Stuart Cassell, Jr., and wife Sarah of Knoxville, Tenn.; daughter Terri Lee Davis and husband Dan of Johns Creek, Ga.; daughter Kimberly Cassell Strauss and husband Ron of Cumming, Ga.; and son Timothy Daniels Cassell and wife Stephanie of Jonesborough, Tenn.

She was the beloved “Ebbie” to eight surviving grandchildren: Stuart Ijams Cassell, Nicholas Boyd Cassell, James Oliver Cassell, Julian Herron Cassell, Anna Ruth Williams Peiffer and husband Joe, Scott Christopher Strauss and wife Robbi-Anne, William Daniels Cassell, and Thomas Andrew Cassell. Additionally, she leaves five great-grandchildren: CJay Peiffer, Evie Jo Peiffer, Lyla Evelyn Strauss, Millie Ruth Strauss, and Walker Scott Strauss. She also leaves behind a dear sister, Norma Jean (Daniels) Wilson, and husband Milt; sister-in-law Ethel Daniels; brother-in-law James Watts; and many nieces and nephews.

Evelyn graduated from Norton High School (Norhi) in Norton, Va., in 1949 after spending a brief stint in high school in Haynesville, La., while traveling the country as a nanny to her brother Charlie's children. She met the love of her life while in high school in Norton, and together they shared 59 wonderful years of marriage, living in Germany, New Jersey, Virginia, Florida, and Alabama before settling in Chattanooga, TN in 1970.

She was an active school and community volunteer, and her children remember their childhood home as the place that all their neighborhood friends gathered. She and Don were longtime members of First Baptist Church (Chattanooga), where they enjoyed teaching youth Sunday school classes and volunteering on every committee imaginable.

Evelyn highly valued education, was an avid reader, and after raising her children, returned to school and earned a B.A. in Humanities in 1995 from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where she was honored as the outstanding senior in her major. Evelyn volunteered with adult English language learners and worked for a number of years in marketing before retiring to care for her husband, Don, during a long illness. She enjoyed her growing family beyond anything else, and later moved to Atlanta to be closer to her daughters.

The Cassell family would like to express sincere gratitude to caregivers Nancy, Donna, Alex, Cassandra, Doris, Dollie, and Capstone Hospice for the blessing they were to our mother.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or to the Dan Williams Future Climate Leaders Fund at the University of Georgia.

A celebration of Evelyn’s life is planned at a later date. Condolences may be sent to the family c/o Kim Strauss at 3410 Montebello Parkway, Cumming, GA 30028.

Services have been entrusted into the care of National Cremation Service (www.nationalcremation.com).