Mary Lee O’Neal, 93, passed away on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at Sanctuary Hospice House in Tupelo. She was born March 12, 1933, to the late Henry Marshall Hudspeth and Eytole Hudspeth. Mary Lee was born and raised in Benton County, Mississippi attending school in Potts Camp. She was baptized at Bethany Baptist Church. Later she graduated from the Mississippi State College for women. In pursuit of her career, she moved to Crawfordsville Arkansas where she taught home economics, science was the dietician. There she met her husband, Garfield O’Neal. They had one child, Raymond. Mary Lee excelled in caring for the family and others. She was devoted to her church Rosewood Methodist and was a dedicated cook, seamstress and horticulturist. She served as garden club president and trustee and choir member at her church. After her husband’s death, she won a battle against cancer and moved to be a daily Mimi to Grant and later Katie. This support was a blessing particularly to daughter in law Emily and son Ray. She made friends in Fulton, joined the Fulton Methodist church and sang on the choir as long as she could. She received excellent care at Charleston Place, Countrywood Manor, and from both Enhabit and Sanctuary Hospice.
Funeral services will be at 2:00 pm on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at the Senter Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Wayne Napier officiating. Burial will be at Crittenden Memorial Park, in Marion, Arkansas. Visitation will be from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm on Sunday April 26th at Senter Funeral Home. Family will gather at the gravesite in Crittenden Memorial Park at 1:00 pm on Monday April 27th, for an informal time of remembrance.
Senter Funeral Home is honored to be serving the family.
She is survived by her son, Ray (Emily) O’Neal of Fulton; grandchildren, Grant O’Neal of Farmington, UT, and Katie O’Neal of Oxford; sister, Helen Russom of Holly Springs; a host of nieces and nephews, and her Fox Meadows neighbors, whom she considered family.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Garfield O’Neal, and her parents, Henry and Eytole Hudspeth.
Honorary pallbearers will be Eric Holland, Barry Childers, Brad Thomas, Brad Chatham, and Doug Jenkins.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in her honor can be made to Sanctuary Hospice House, P.O. Box 2177, Tupelo, MS 38803.
