Columbus, GA- Constance M. Van Blarcum, 93, died February 24, 2014, at her home. Connie was born September 29, 1920, in Columbus, Georgia, to Jesse Winford and Kathrin Trammel Martin.
She attended the public schools of Columbus, and St. Petersburg, Florida, graduating from Columbus High School in 1937. She graduated from Shorter College in 1941 with a degree in Sociology. She obtained a teaching certificate from Auburn University, and a Masters in Early Childhood Education from Columbus State University. After graduating from college she learned shorthand, bookkeeping and other administrative skills, and her first job was for Mr. Mark Rosenberg of Columbus.
After World War II she traveled to New York with lifelong friend Elinor Murray McDougal, where they worked for a year as secretaries, Connie at Texaco in the Chrysler Building, and Elinor at the Carnegie Foundation. That time gave her a life long love for New York City. After living in Ohio, Texas, and Arkansas, Connie returned to Columbus with her young daughter and began a lifetime passion as an educator.
After beginning teaching at Woodall School and Columbus High School, she taught fifth, fourth, and third grades at Trinity School, predecessor to Brookstone School, from 1959 until it moved to Brookstone's current location. One of her funnier memories of her Trinity days concerned the year that her classroom was located off the gymnasium, and the only telephone for that building was in her classroom. Daily instruction was punctuated by answering the school telephone for the PE department.
At Brookstone she was an active faculty member of the Lower School from its first day of operation until her retirement in 1985, after which time she was a regular substitute in the Lower School grades and library until 2003. Connie took great pleasure and pride in her students, encouraging mastery of skills, and in watching them grow up and reach their potential. She taught many second and some third generation students and loved that connection. She was known by her students, fellow teachers, and parents for the high standards she set for herself and her students. Her teaching colleagues, especially her Brookstone Lower School family, provided rich friendships that endured for Connie's lifetime. After retirement from full time teaching Connie volunteered at the Columbus Museum, St. Luke church library, and gave over 500 hours to the crisis telephone ministry of CONTACT. She was a member of the Junior League of Columbus and the Magnolia Garden Club. After moving to Spring Harbor she enjoyed taking advantage of new activities and meeting new friends as well as continuing enduring friendships.
In addition to her parents Connie was predeceased by her sister, Anne Martin Johnson. She is survived by her daughter Kathelen and her husband, Daniel Amos, grandchildren Laura Elizabeth Spencer, John Kyle Spencer, and Margaret Winford Spencer, son in law Tracy E. D. Spencer, nephews David A. (Dianne) Johnson and Paul M. (Mary) Johnson, cousins Barbara Fort Morgan (Bobo) and Betty Fort Griffin (Gary), and many great nieces and nephews.
A Service of Celebration of Life will be held at St. Luke United Methodist Church at 4:00 pm on Thursday, February 27, 2014. The family will receive friends at St. Luke's Stockwell Hall in the church building at 3 pm Thursday prior to the memorial service. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a memorial donation to St. Luke United Methodist Church outreach ministry, Brookstone School Faculty support fund, the John B. Amos Cancer Center, or Columbus Hospice.

Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, February 26 to February 27, 2014