Gwen Muriel Kesler, 95, of Carnesville, Ga passed away Tuesday morning, December 22, 2020, at the Jackson Oaks Center in Jefferson, GA.
Born August 18, 1925, in Banks County, she was the daughter of the late James Allen “Al” and Alice Loretta Gillespie Kesler. She was the sister of the late Doris Kesler. Mepham, Quilla Inez Kesler Sheffield, and Gaylord Kesler. She was in the music industry; a member of National Recording Artist Association; recipient of the chairmans’s award Georgia Music Festival and inductee into Georgia Music Hall of Fame 1984 as a non-preforming artist. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Atlanta.
She was survived by sisters, Joan Kesler, Faye Kesler, and Ann South, all of Carnesville; one brother Oliver Kesler, of Toccoa; nieces and nephews, Alice Kesler, Allen Kesler, Scott Kesler, Deborah Mepham Sponheimer, Gina Mepham Baumgartner, Mike South, Mark South, and Devin South; numerous great-nieces and nephews.
Services will be 2pm Monday at the B D Ginn Memorial Chapel. Interment will be Prospect Church Cemetery. Condolences at ginnfuneralhome.com.
Gwen was my employer, confidant, and mentor from the time I began working in the music industry at Southland Records Distributing Co. in Atlanta in 1965. I could not have had a better friend than Gwen over the last 55+ years, and I will miss her greatly.
Gwen was one of “the Leading Ladies” in the music industry when I came along in in the late 70’s. Everyone knew her throughout the southeast and she was a well-respected businesswoman. She had a hand in the success of a lot of recording artists in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. May God grant her soul sweet rest.
Gwenn was the finest person I ever met in all my years in the record business. I am blessed to have the privilege of knowing her.
Condolences to Gwen’s family. She was one of a kind and an icon in Atlanta’s radio and record community in the 60’s.
Gwen gave me my start at Southland, great boss and good friend. Last time I saw her was at Georgia Radio Hall of Fame banquet and sadly her eye site was so bad, you had to tell her who you were. Superstar in her own right in Atlanta. Great memories of working for Gwen.
Ditto Larry and Steve
Was with her at Tara Records
Lots of memories and life lessons
Regards to Faye,Joan,Gina and family
All the Burkhart Family will miss Gwen.
We loved her so much. What a great Lady!
great Person!
I met “Miss Kessler” ar Southland Records on Edgewood Avenue in 1952, I was 12 years old and worked at Woodfin’s Record shop.
Gwen was my boss in the 1960’s, 70’s and 80’s. She was the undisputed “Queen” of the record business. She was a “power house,
helping artists with record deals and contracts. We have remained friends for over 68 years.
I will truly miss her.
Miss Kesler was a very sweet and caring woman. I met her when my lawn care business used to take care of her property when she lived in carnesville. She took me and my friends that worked with me at the time to eat on several occasions, and she went on a mini road trip with us that was several hours away when we went to take care of a property for her that she owned in another part of ga at the time. We had alot of laughs with her and good times talking with and being around her. She even came to the funeral home when my grandpa passed away in 2010. She was one of a kind. Prayers for your family.
I enjoyed the years I spent with Gwen after she went into personal care. I teased her about being kissing cousins with my husband and I would not let him come see her because his kisses were mine. How I loved her laughter when we teased. I will miss her. Love to all of you family members.
I loved Gwen so much!
Aunt Gwen is what I called her, but I was not an actual nephew. Her brother Oliver was one of my mentors growing up and I knew her from my times hunting with him at the family farm when I was young. When I was in school at Georgia Tech, she welcomed me to Atlanta, where she knew so many interesting people and of course, her contacts in the music industry. She certainly broadened my taste in the different genres by allowing me the opportunity to attend so many concerts over my time in Atlanta. She would give me a call to come pick up some tickets, and of course I wouldn’t pass up a chance. I learned pretty quickly that I would enjoy whatever event it was. One of my favorite stories was when I was a freshman, she called and I went by her office at Tara and she gave me some very good front row tickets to a musician that was in town playing. I remember saying “I have never heard of him” and she quickly told me “he hasn’t heard of you either”! I loved the show and soon after the rest of the world realized just how good Boz Scaggs really was too. What I really loved best was eating dinner with her and Gina at her house, where it seems like we all laughed most of the night. I’ll truly miss her, she was a wonderful friend.
Gwen was a great Lady! She gave me my First job
At Southland Records! She taught me a lot about the
Record Business! A powerful Woman!!
Loved Her
I didn’t know you very long, but I immediately loved your fiery spirit. Scott and I enjoyed coming to visit you. Just listening to your stories in your glory days. Rest easy.