Carolen Belcher Hansard

Carolen Belcher Hansard of Lithia Springs, Georgia, passed away Thursday August 21, 2025. She was born April 20, 1934 in Anderson, South Carolina, the daughter of Rubye Harris Belcher and Calvin Wesley Belcher. Carolen moved to Atlanta after receiving a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance from Converse College. Carolen married her adoring husband William Lewis Hansard (Bill) on August 8, 1958. They were true partners for more than sixty years, raising a daughter and a son, and delighting in their family. With the arrival of their beloved granddaughter and grandson, Carolen and Bill treasured becoming Ga and Pa.

Pa lovingly and actively supported Ga in all her arts endeavors. While being a full-time mother and teacher, Carolen went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Music Education from Georgia State University.

In addition to being a loving wife, mother and grandmother, Carolen was a devoted teacher. She taught high school music and drama for over three decades at Douglas County High School, Lithia Springs High School and Villa Rica High School. Her high school groups received numerous awards in Georgia All-State and One Act Play competitions. She also shared her musical talents by giving piano lessons for over fifty years to children and adults. Carolen was able to enjoy playing her piano up until her 91st birthday in April.

Carolen positively impacted the lives of countless hundreds of students. Carolen’s students found their passions and life paths through her unfailing (and demanding) direction and support. A music scholarship in Carolen’s name at Converse College was fully endowed through the efforts and generosity of many grateful former students. Many of Carolen’s former students became lifelong friends. The glorious impact Carolen had on so many young people cannot be measured and will last forever.

Carolen acted as adjudicator in many Piano Guild and One Act Play competitions. She was a member of the Georgia Thespian Hall of Fame and was also a lifetime member of the Georgia Music Educators Association.

Carolen was a long-time member of Lithia Springs United Methodist Church where she was the music director for many years. Carolen transferred her membership to Oak Grove United Methodist Church after moving to Kingsbridge in Decatur.

Carolen loved her family more than anything. She nurtured and supported her son Bart in his professional acting career as well as her daughter Angela in her community musical endeavors. She adored the time spent with her Haley and William and cherished her wonderful son-in law Chris. Chris was devoted to his “Mom” and delivered her favorite Moo Goo Gai Pan meal each and every Sunday afternoon without fail. In recent years, Carolen welcomed her new daughter-in-law Deanna to the family.

In addition to her parents, Carolen was preceded in death by her husband of sixty years, Bill Hansard. Carolen is survived by her children, Angela (Christopher) McDaniel of Decatur and Bart (Deanna) Hansard of Douglasville; her two grandchildren, Haley Elizabeth Harris McDaniel and William Rhea Hansard McDaniel; her two sisters, Cynthia Belcher Drennan of Murfreesboro, Tennessee and Elizabeth Belcher Sanders of Beaufort, South Carolina; and numerous special nephews and nieces.

Our family would like to thank the many caregivers that helped support and love our mom and grandmother over the past six years. Personal Care assisted Carolen at Kingsbridge. Upon her move to

Albert’s House this past March, Carolen received the extremely loving and specialized care of their amazing staff. We will always consider all her caregivers as family. They are angels among us.

The Memorial Service for Carolen will be Sunday September 7, at 2:00 PM, Jones-Wynn Funeral Home, 2189 Midway Rd, Douglasville, GA with a reception following. The family plans an interment at a later date at Westview Cemetery in Atlanta.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Carolen to support Alzheimer’s research through the Alzheimer’s Association at donorservices.alz.org.

Messages of condolence may be sent to www.jones-wynn.com Jones-Wynn Funeral Home & Crematory of Douglasville is in charge of the arrangements. 770-942-2311