Born in Marietta, Georgia on January 8, 1977, Christy Hayes Stapleton passed away on January 17, 2024, at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta. On December 27, Christy received the gift of life, a new liver. Although the physicians and staff fought relentlessly with every fiber of medical knowledge to save her life, her Heavenly Father showed mercy and sent his angels to take her home to be with Him. Awaiting her arrival in Heaven were her grandparents, Marion D. and Bertie Sayer Standridge, Dr. T. K. Stapleton, Joan Roberson Stapleton, and Linda M. Stapleton.
Christy leaves behind her husband, Kyle Green of Shelby, North Carolina, and her parents, Charles and Deborah Stapleton of Douglas. Along with her husband and parents, Christy will be forever missed by her brother Keegan Stapleton, as well as her sister Callie Stapleton Royer and Callie’s husband John Royer.
As a child, Christy’s spiritual faith was instilled through Christian teachings and fellowship at her home church, Douglas First Baptist, and with “Grandma Bertie” at Douglas First Congregational Christian Church.
After graduating from Coffee High School in 1995, Christy earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology at the University of Georgia. While pursuing her master’s degree in School Counseling at University of North Florida she began an internship in counseling at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts. She spent her entire professional career serving as a high school counselor with the Duval County School System in Jacksonville, Florida, touching the lives of coworkers, students, and parents at Andrew Jackson High School, Forrest, now known as Westside High School, Atlantic Coast High School, and Ed White High School. Christy was truly gifted with the ability to provide support for, and rescue lost and wayward young people, striving to keep them on track to successfully reach their educational goals.
Having no children of her own, Christy loved and cherished the relationships she fostered with her nieces and nephews, Chesney Stapleton, Charlotte Royer, Josephine Royer, Jack Royer, and Owen Royer. It thrilled her soul to spend time with her family, especially the children, making arts and crafts, and baking and decorating cookies. Being a beach lover, she made unforgettable memories during family vacations swimming, sitting in the sun, building sandcastles and playing with these children she loved as though they were her own. Christy forever valued family traditions and helped to make every gathering special. Her aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, coworkers, students, “wanderers” and complete strangers enjoyed her company and cherished the relationships they developed with her. Christy listened, never judged, and had a way of looking at a person with her crystal blue eyes and letting her quiet, caring spirit shine through.
In 2021 Christy met and married Kyle Green. In addition to loving each other they shared the love of cooking, and she was whisked away to Shelby, North Carolina where she and Kyle lived until she became ill.
A family service will be held on a warm sunny day in the spring and Christy will be laid to rest beside her Grandmother Joan in an orchard of oaks overlooking the pastures and cypress pond at the Stapleton farm.
To “pay it forward” and keep Christy’s memory alive, it is the family’s wish that those who knew and loved her consider making donations to the American Red Cross, and for all who are able, please make an ongoing commitment to give blood, which is truly the GIFT of LIFE.
Sims Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
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