Chloë Lawing Dekle, née Chloë Gibson Lawing, beloved wife, mother and grandmother, died April 9, 2026, after a long illness.

Chloë was one of Savannah’s first female stockbrokers. Through her intelligence, integrity, energy and business acumen, she became one of the city’s most successful brokers after a 40-year career. Before her career at Merrill Lynch, she taught English in the Savannah public school system for twelve years, where her passion for teaching was coupled with an intense engagement with her students.

Chloë was born in Savannah, Georgia, to Raymond Robert Lawing and Elsie Leslie Lyle Gibson on August 4, 1943.

Chloë led an exemplary life. She set the highest standards for herself and proved that doing so would lead to success. She succeeded at all she set her mind to. She was valedictorian of her high school class at Saint Vincent’s Academy in Savannah. She went on to graduate from the University of Georgia with a B.A. in English. She started her teaching career at Jenkins High School where she met her husband, James Dekle. They had two twin daughters, Nicole and Catherine Dekle, the first twins born in ten years at Savannah’s Candler Hospital. Eighteen years later, she gave birth to a son, Andrew Harrison Dekle. 

Chloë obtained a Master’s Degree in Education from UGA and taught at Richard Arnold High School for most of her teaching career prior to joining Merrill Lynch. She was awarded Teacher of the Year during her teaching career. Additionally, she narrated the documentary “The Intellectual Background for the U.S. Constitution.”

Chloë was awarded the McAuley Award from St. Vincent’s Academy for her outstanding service managing the school’s finances. She served on several boards throughout her career, including United Way, The Salvation Army, and Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens at the Bamboo Farm. 

She loved her family above everything else. Her vitality and energy were an animating force, encouraging all around her to strive for excellence, as she had done. All who knew her basked in the light of her profound life force, wit and intelligence. 

She will be deeply missed, especially by her family, whom she supported with such profound devotion and generosity.

Chloë is survived by her husband James Dekle, children Nicole Dekle Collins (husband Jeff Kahn), Catherine Leigh Dekle (husband Keith Derek Mannes) and Andrew Harrison Dekle (wife Monica Harper Dekle), as well as by three grandchildren, Sophie Gibson Mannes, Clara Elise Mannes and Remington James Dekle. She is predeceased by her father, mother and brother Raymond Robert Lawing, Jr. 

A funeral in her honor will be officiated by Reverend Ben Martin of the Wesley Monumental Methodist Church and will be held at Congregation Mickve Israel at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, April 17th, 2026. Chloë loved flowers, which can be sent to Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors. Charitable contributions may be sent to her beloved alma mater, St. Vincent’s Academy in Savannah, Georgia.