Merilyn Martin Elrod Cheatham, born December 25, 1946, in Texarkana, AR, to Robert Bayless Elrod and Frances Lucille Martin, passed on March 14, 2026.

She is survived by her husband of 35 years, Jeff Cheatham, of Columbus, GA; her siblings, Max Elrod (Beth) of Texarkana, AR and Jane Martin of Chanute, KS; her two daughters, Kelly (Gillespie) Sutterfield (Mike Sutterfield) of Dothan, AL, and Christine (Gillespie) Truskolaski (Paul Snider) of Savannah, GA; five grandchildren, Robert Sutterfield (Brooklyn) of Dothan, AL, Kayla Sutterfield of Daleville, AL, Emma Snider of Woodstock, IL, Megan Snider of Harrogate, TN, and Abby Snider of Savannah, GA; her great-granddaughter, Rosie Sutterfield; as well as her beloved nieces, nephews, and extended family.

Generosity wasn’t something Merilyn practiced — it was simply who she was, woven into the very fabric of her being. If one would do, she was bringing you twelve. She had a laugh that could light up any room, and a gift for card making that brought joy to everyone, lucky enough to find one of her creations in the mailbox — her cards were always something to look forward to. It was her daughter Kelly who introduced her to Stampin’ Up, and from there, her love for handmade cards never stopped. And if you were lucky enough to be greeted by Merilyn, you were getting a hug — a real one, the kind that made you feel like everything was going to be just fine. It was her favorite thing to give, and she was magnificent at it. Then again, that was easy for Merilyn, because everyone was her favorite — she had a way of making every single person feel like the most important one in the room. Above all, she adored her husband, Jeff, and that devotion was evident to all who knew them.

Like a late-blooming wildflower that surprises you in the most unexpected season, Merilyn got her only two tattoos in Savannah at the spirited age of 77 — a nod to her favorite Beatles song, Let It Be, and her Capricorn sign. She wore them perfectly.

Merilyn enjoyed a 40+ year career in healthcare records, where she made numerous friends and touched countless lives. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate to your local Alzheimer’s Research or Care Facility.

Georgia Cremation-Columbus is assisting the family with the arrangements.