Marilyn Ruth Lovett Locklear, passed away on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at the age of 88.

Marilyn Ruth Lovett was born in Demorest, GA, on May 1st, 1938. She was married to her beloved Roy McArthur “Mack” Locklear for 64 years before his passing in 2021.

Marilyn is preceded in death by her parents Warren Pound Lovett and Ethel Carpenter Lovett, and brother Warren Pound Lovett, Jr. (Cutter)

She is survived by her children Roy McArthur “Art” Locklear III and Olivia De Mello Saye, Merrimac Locklear Forsyth and Marty Forsyth. Grandchildren Daniel Reese Forsyth and Hunter Locklear Forsyth of Rome. Her sister, Jean Lovett Salmon and Sherold Salmon of Rome; sister Kathy Lovett Thomas and Neil Thomas of Pennsylvania; and brother Warren Stanley Lovett of Atlanta; and sister-in- law Helen Callahan Lovett of Rome (Warren Jr). She also has many surviving cousins, nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews.

Marilyn attended Rome High School. She went on to attend West Georgia College and later took classes at Shorter College. She also attended Immanuel Bible College. Mack served in the US Air Force and after his return in January of 1956, he proposed in March. The couple married on August 11th, 1957, at St. Luke Methodist in Rome, GA.

The young couple moved to Brooklyn, NY, for a brief period and returned to live in Atlanta. In 1963 they were both led to the Lord. They remained in Atlanta and were members of Forrest Hills Baptist Church in Decatur, GA. In 1976, they moved to Rome and Mack became pastor of Rome Baptist Tabernacle where Marilyn taught Sunday school and took care of her family for the next sixteen years.

In 1996 Mack and Marilyn went to Jamaica as missionaries. First in Bounty Hall for four years then in 2000 they went to Martha Brae, Jamaica. They built Riverside Baptist Church on the river bank of the Martha Brae. In 2004, they built the Hobgood Short Term Mission Building in which they lived. In 2010, the Noah’s Ark Children’s Home was completed and within six months ten Jamaican children had a home. Marilyn would later say the mission work in Jamaica was the most important and rewarding work she ever experienced.

Their life together was blessed by God. Their motto in which they lived was “We live simply so others might simply live.” Now they rest together forever in His arms.

Funeral services for Marilyn will be Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at Rome Baptist Temple where she was a faithful member. Pastor Chris Hanks will be officiating. Kathy Thomas will do the eulogy and Pastor Pat Lawrence of Berea Baptist Church of Athens, Alabama will be preaching. Interment will be at East View Cemetery.

Marilyn will lay in-state at the church on Wednesday from 11:00 a.m. until the service hour where the family will receive friends.

Pallbearers will include David Salmon of Rome, Trey Salmon of Rome, Arch Metcalf of Rome, David Sargent of McDonough, Kip Hynson of Stockridge, and Jeff Wentz of Dunkirk, New York.

Flowers will be accepted, or memorial contributions may be made in Marilyn’s honor to the Hour of Grace Missions, Inc., PO Box 1445, Rome, GA 30162.

The Salmon Funeral Home & Crematory family is honored to serve Mrs. Marilyn Ruth Locklear and her family.