Rosemary Shiretzki Goolsby

Rosemary "Rose" Shiretzki Goolsby passed away on July 2, 2026, at the age of 75.

She is survived by her beloved husband of 50 years, Mike Goolsby. She also leaves behind her son, Chip Brazell, and daughter-in-law, Ruth Brazell; her daughters, Lisa Milby, Katy Goolsby-Brown, and Emily Goolsby; and her sons-in-law, Robert Milby, Michael Brown, and Scott "Frog" Finley. She was a devoted grandmother to David Henry Milby, Robert Graves, and Helen Brown, and grandmother-in-law to Kaitlyn Milby and Malec Graves. Her great-grandchildren, Scarlet Milby, Roslyn Milby, and Henry Michael Milby, also survive her.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Monday, July 13, 2026, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST at Braselton Funeral Home. The family invites friends and loved ones to drop in, share memories, and celebrate Rosemary's life. A reception at the family home will follow.

Born in Gainesville, Georgia, Rosemary was the youngest daughter of David "Ditz" and Mary Shiretzki. From an early age, she had a deep love for animals, especially horses, and throughout her life she cared for a remarkable variety of pets, including horses, dogs, cats, and even a monkey. As a child, she dreamed of being a cowboy — not a cowgirl, as she would explain with a smile, because "cowgirls always had to be saved."

A lifelong Beatles fan, Rosemary proudly belonged to the Beatles Fan Club during the 1960s and continued collecting Beatles memorabilia throughout her life. She treasured the concert ticket from the Beatles performance she attended, and always declared Paul McCartney her favorite because, like her, he was left-handed.

Rosemary dedicated many years to teaching, bringing creativity, enthusiasm, and joy into every classroom. Her students fondly remember her unforgettable lessons, including the time she brought her daughter's Siberian Husky to school while teaching about Balto and the Great Serum Run, giving students a chance to meet firsthand one of the remarkable working dogs that made the story possible. Generations of students remember Mrs. Goolsby not only for making learning fun, but for giving them a strong educational foundation.

After retiring from the classroom, Rosemary found another way to teach as a Master Gardener, delighting in sharing her love of gardening with students and fellow gardeners alike. Her own garden became the pride of the neighborhood, and family and friends eagerly anticipated the annual phone call announcing that her blueberries were ready to be picked.

An extraordinarily talented artist, Rosemary worked primarily in wood, creating breathtaking intarsia and scroll work pieces. Her home was filled with her creations, and she generously shared her work with family and friends, crafting personalized pieces to commemorate graduations, weddings, anniversaries, and the arrival of new family members. Each gift reflected not only countless hours of craftsmanship, but the love she poured into every detail.

Above all, Rosemary cherished her family. She loved spending weeks each summer with her grandchildren, watching them race through the woods and invent imaginary adventures together, and even developed an impressive talent for video games so she could play alongside them for hours. Although declining health limited the time she could spend with her great-grandchildren, she treasured every moment with them and delighted in letting them happily boss her around.

Rosemary's life was one of creativity, kindness, curiosity, and unwavering love. Whether she was teaching a classroom, tending a garden, creating a work of art, or making memories with those she loved, she gave herself wholeheartedly. Her legacy lives on in the countless students she inspired, the beauty she created, and the family who will forever cherish her memory.

Braselton Funeral Home, 5257 Highway 53, Braselton, Georgia 30517 is in charge of arrangements.  On-line condolences may be left at www.memorialparkfuneralhomes.com. 

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