Beth Kelley Zorbanos

Beth Kelley Zorbanos passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by her family on Thursday, January 22, 2026. She was born to Joan Harris Cook (mother) and Andrew Kelley (father) in Marietta, GA on February 4th, 1953.

She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and a caregiver to numerous family members and friends throughout her life. She was skilled at cooking and baking and found meaning in preserving the traditions and heritage of her family.

Beth also led a full and meaningful cultural life outside of her home. She was a founding member of the Athens Folk Music and Dance Society and a dancer for the Bullfrog Cloggers. Beth enjoyed making traditional apple cider and homemade wine. She was a banjo player and a folk artist of the highest caliber. Beth was a well-known master, cornhusk dollmaker. Her dolls are featured in the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, and one of her doll ornaments has adorned The White House Christmas tree. For many years, Beth demonstrated dollmaking at The Foxfire Museum in Mountain City, Georgia, the Tullie Smith Farm on the grounds of the Atlanta History Center in Atlanta, Georgia, the Moses H. Cone House in Blowing Rock, North Carolina, and many other historical sites. Beth was a member of the Southern Highland Craft Guild, she was featured in Foxfire magazine, and she was featured in Foxfire Oral Histories in 2014, which resides in the Digital Library of Georgia.

Outside of her devotion to her family and her folk art, Beth was motivated to be involved in her community. Beth was a board member of Watson Mill Bridge State Park and played an active role in preserving Watson Mill as a state park. She was guided by the principle of peace in all aspects of her life and shared that vision with the world through her work as a peace activist with the “Women in Black”, her collaborations with Buddhist monks and indigenous people of the United States, and her involvement with numerous other peace-promoting groups across the world. Beth was a deeply spiritual person. She was multi-denominational and had an appreciation for all religions and faiths.

Above all, Beth will be remembered as an exemplar of unconditional love. She lived free of fear, she was non-judgmental, and she lived with kindness.

Beth is survived by her husband, Peter F. Zorbanos, her three sons (and their partners), and her grandson.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Beth’s name to the Great Smoky Mountain Peace Pagoda at https://smokymountainpeacepagoda.org/.

Lord and Stephens Funeral Home, East, Athens, GA is in charge of arrangements. www.lordandstephens.com