Elizabeth Jane Cornish George had a different way about her. The wall-to-wall crowd at her funeral service at First United Methodist Church provided the evidence.

Joel Smith, a Alabama newspaper publisher for more than 40 years in Eufaula, spent a lot of time with the Georges during their time together in the newspaper industry.

A lifelong member of First United Methodist Church, Mrs. George was a former president of The United Methodist Women, her church circle and several other church organizations. She taught Sunday School for more than 60 years. Together with other church women, she founded "The Bargain Box," a household goods and clothing service center, where she volunteered for many years. The Alabama Department of Human Resources honored her for her many contributions to that effort.

Mrs. George also was a charter member of the Southside Garden Club, which she served as president. She was a charter member of the Silhouette Club, and was a member and president of The Colonial Book Club and the Demopolis Parent/Teacher Association.

Her years of community involvement and public service brought her many honors. In 1971-1972, the Demopolis Jaycees presented Mrs. George and her husband a Community Service Award. In 1980, the Demopolis Chamber of Commerce honored her as Demopolis Outstanding Citizen, and in 1984, the American Association of University Women selected her the Outstanding Woman of Demopolis. The regional Key Club nominated Mrs. George as Alabama Mother of the Year, and she and her husband were honored by First United Methodist Church for their many years of service to the church and the community.

Services were held on Monday, Oct. 21, 2002, at 2 p.m. at Demopolis First United Methodist Church. Interment followed in Riverside Cemetery with Kidd-Robbins Funeral Directors directing.

She is survived by her five daughters: Martha Griffith (Eugene P.), Jane Watson, Kayte Melton (Thomas), all of Demopolis; Sally Cobb (Mitchell) of Mobile, and Donnie Ford (Wentworth) of Chicago; her brother-in-law, Richard George (Charlotte) of Birmingham; her sister-in-law, Catherine George Boykin (Milton) of Charleston, S.C.; 10 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband and her brother, George A. Cornish of New York.

Active pallbearers included grandsons-in-law Phil Anderson, Terry Randall, Jerry Quinney, Brian Henry, Bill Meador and Jim Kaufman. Honorary pallbearers include the Open Door Methodist Sunday School class.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to First United Methodist Church, 200 E. Decatur Street, Demopolis, AL 36732.