Mary Master Smith, 86, died at NMMC after a brief illness on Wednesday, January 29, 2025. She was 86 years old. Born Mary Yvonne Cullum on Sept. 7, 1938 in Manila, Arkansas, she was the daughter of the late Walter Cullum and Katy Cullum. She grew up in Manila and graduated from Manila High School in 1956. She married Robert Charles “RC” Master after high school. To this union was born three children, Robert, Jr., Kathy, and Karen (deceased). The Master family relocated to Tupelo in 1967. Mary, an industrious and independent lady, worked for many years as the Office Manager at the Lee County Health Dept before opening Mary’s Fashions, a lady’s dress shop in Tupelo. Her last employment was in the office at Golden Living (Diversicare) Nursing Home. Mary kept up with current events and enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles and watching “cowboy” movies especially Gunsmoke. Always dressing to the 9s with every hair in place, Mary enjoyed her longtime membership at West Main St. Church of Christ especially the “girl’s group.” Her greatest passion was loving her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
A service celebrating her life will be held at 3 PM on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025 in the Sadie Holland Memorial Chapel at Holland Funeral Directors in Tupelo with Minister Doug Greenway officiating. She will be interred privately at Tupelo Memorial Park. Visitation will begin at 2 PM Saturday at the funeral home. For those unable to attend, the service may be viewed at www.hollandfuneraldirectors.com/live-streaming where it will be archived afterward. Holland Funeral Directors is honored to serve the family.
Mary is survived by her husband, Gary Smith of Tupelo; children, Robert Master, Jr. (Melissa) of Searcy, Ark, and Kathy Palmer of Saltillo; grandchildren, Jeremy Roberson (Shea) of Blue Springs, MS, Katie Vandiver of Dennis, Molly V. Haygood (Zack) of Saltillo, Marcie Master White (Andrew) of Fayetteville, Ark., Max Master of Rogers, Ark.; and great-grandchildren, Ethan Robertson, Will Robertson, Logan Wooten, Teddy White, and Reese Haygood; and son-in-law Brenson Harrison.
She was preceded in death by her parents Walter and Katy Cullum; her first husband and the children’s father, R.C. Master, who died on Feb. 25, 2007; her daughter Karen Harrison, great-grandson Tate Haygood, sister, Irene Wortham, and brother George Cullum.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Sanctuary Hospice House, P.O. 2177, Tupelo, MS 38802.
