Mary Louise Lawrence Reed departed her earthly home on Saturday, July 27, 2024. Missing her loving presence are her three devoted children: Cynthia Lynn (Cindy) Reed and husband Steve Walls of Nashville, TN; Richard Earl (Ricky, Rick) Reed of Ripley, MS; and Sandra Carolyn (Sandy) Reed of Olive Branch, MS. She also leaves four grandchildren: Charles Daniel (Dan) Reed, Angela Nicole (Angie) Reed, Nathaniel Reed (Nathan) Walls, and Lauren Ashley (Lenny) Walls; and three great grandchildren: Morgan, Addison and Brody. Mary leaves her sister, Ann Lawrence Redding of Wetumpka, AL; three sisters-in-law Helen Simpson Reed of Columbus, Carolyn Reed of Columbus, and Eleanor (Rausch) and Tim Comeau of Maine/Florida; and numerous beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Mary is being welcomed in heaven by her parents, Mr. James Edward Lawrence, Sr., and Mrs. Elizabeth Caplinger Land Lawrence; her daughter, Karen Denise Reed; and by two sisters and three brothers: Dorothy (Dot) Lawrence Lane, Nancy Lawrence Cox, James E. (Jim) Lawrence Jr, Thomas Arthur (Tom) Lawrence, and George Louis (Louie) Lawrence. She was also preceded by her former husband, Charles Ray Reed.
Mary was born on May 21, 1938, in Columbus, MS, where she lived and worked until 1977, when she moved to Southaven, MS. She attended Franklin Academy and S. D. Lee High School in Columbus. She was an active member of Plymouth Baptist Church during her years in Columbus, moving on to Southaven First United Methodist Church, Eastwood Christian Church in Nashville, TN, and Longview Heights Baptist Church in Olive Branch, MS.
During two summers in high school, Mary and her sister, Nancy, worked as clerks for the FBI offices in Washington, D.C., where she enjoyed exploring the sights of our nation’s capital and learning more about the history and government of her country. Once all her children were in school, she worked for several years with Sears and Roebuck in Columbus in their catalog ordering department. Mary really found her calling when in the early 1970’s, she began a childcare business in Columbus. She loved educating and nurturing children, and with the Lord’s help, continued in this field by serving as director of the daycare and kindergarten programs for Southaven First Methodist Church for 14 years, from 1981 to 1995. She made many lifelong friends while working there, and always treasured her memories of each and every child, parent, and others whom she served and nurtured throughout the years.
Mary also enjoyed helping raise her grandchildren, raising a vegetable garden, cooking and canning, birds, nature, picking blackberries on the farm where she was raised, helping the elderly, teaching Sunday School, reading, and crossword puzzles. Her favorite TV shows of late were Golden Girls and Property Brothers.
Mary (Mother, Mom, Granny, Nanny Mary) is and will be loved and missed as long as those whom she touched are still on this earth. She has joined the angels, and we are elated for her.
A Celebration of Life visitation will be held at the home of Sandy Reed on
Thursday, August 1, 2024, any time.
9805 Taylor Drive
Olive Branch, MS 38654
Memorial Service Saturday, August 3, 2024
Memorial Gunter Peel Funeral Home
716 2nd. Ave. N.
Columbus, MS 39701
Visitation 1:00 p.m.
Service 2:00 p.m.
Fellowship and meal to follow the service:
College View Personal Care Home
1323 College St.
Columbus, MS 39701
In lieu of flowers, to further honor Mary’s legacy, the family requests that donations be made to Palmer Home for Children. Online donations can be made online or by mail:
https://palmerhome.org/donate/
Palmer Home for Children
800 Baldwin Road S.
Lake Cormorant, MS 38641
Special Appreciation is extended to the loving staff of Christopher’s Manor Assisted Living Home in Holly Springs, MS, which was Mary’s home for the last 9 months
