Maxine Drinnen Chesser

Maxine Drinnen Chesser of Atlanta Georgia passed away at the age of 97, on August 11, 2025.  Maxine was born and raised in Knoxville Tennessee to parents Bruce and Bertha Drinnen.  She attended Fountain City Central High and graduated with a Bachelors in Biology from Carson Newman College.  After graduation, she worked as a teacher for 6 years in Oakdale TN then worked with the Knoxville Girl Scouts. She met her husband Chess of 57 years while she was with the Girl Scouts.  They then moved to Atlanta and she began working for Campfire of Metro Atlanta.  She worked with Campfire for 32 years as Executive Director until she retired.  She was known to remark that the thing she enjoyed most about her job was that she loved seeing outstanding programs delivered to children and youth.

She was a member of Briarlake Baptist Church for 52 years working with youth and later teaching adult classes.  She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother.  Maxine enjoyed being in the mountains hiking and camping, quilting, family research and preserving family history and sewing.  She will be remembered for her love of family, friends and her deep Christian faith.

She was preceded in death by her parents Bruce and Bertha Drinnen, husband Chess, granddaughter Devyn Chesser, siblings Bruce Drinnen and Charlotte Miller.  She is survived by her sons Brian (Joanne) Chesser and Don Chesser, grandchildren Nicole (Casey) Greene, Megan (Miles) Kemp, Scott (Mary) Anglin and Andrew Anglin, great grandchildren Presley, Blake, and Dylan Greene, Tanner and Addie Anglin, sister Joyce Underwood and many nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Maxine’s life will be held in the Briarlake Church chapel Saturday, August 23rd. Visitation at 10:00 am with the Service at 11:00 am.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Briarlake Church 3715 LaVista Rd. Decatur, GA 30033.  Briarlakechurch.org