‘Serving with a smile.’ Former first lady of Columbus, Yogurt Shoppe Café owner dies
A former first lady of Columbus died this week.
Mary “Joyce” Mickle, the wife of the late Jack Mickle, who was mayor from 1975-79, died Monday, according to McMullen Funeral Home.
The cause and location of her death weren’t reported. She was 89 and resided in Ellerslie.
Mickle helped run the family’s Yogurt Shoppe Café, a popular lunch place — famous for its chicken salad — during its 1987-2016 run on Woodruff Road, across Manchester Expressway from St. Francis Hospital.
She was named a Gracious Lady of Georgia for her contributions to the community and state.
Before the Yogurt Shoppe, she worked at Sears and Briarcrest School of North Highland Church.
“Mrs. Mickle was indeed, a ‘Gracious Lady’, both in Columbus and in Georgia,” Columbus Councilor Judy Thomas told the Ledger-Enquirer in an email Thursday. “She supported her husband as he served as mayor of Columbus, and supported our community in many ways. Many will also remember her graciousness as the owner of the Yogurt Shoppe, always serving with a smile.”
Kelli McKenzie, one of their three children, told the L-E by phone Thursday, “Dad kind of thrust mom into the limelight. She was a much more private person than she really led everyone to believe. So that was difficult for her, but she took it in stride and did anything that Daddy would want her to do.”
Mickle was suffering from congestive heart failure, McKenzie said.
“It means a lot to know that people do recognize her as a figure to look up to,” McKenzie said. “… Seeing all the comments from people, it does my heart good to see that she’s leaving a lasting legacy with so many people.”
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the funeral and burial will be private, according to McMullen.
This story was originally published March 26, 2020 at 10:40 AM.
