Mary Young Clemmons, 84, Florence, wife of Lloyd C. “Bill” Clemmons, entered her heavenly home on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023. She left in the place she began, in her home on a beautiful plot of land that stretches across the winding country roads of Lauderdale County. She grew with her family on this land, and with Bill, grew a family of her own – large, varied, and forever filled with love.
Mary graduated from Waterloo High School and Larimore Business College. Bill and Mary married on March 4th, 1960, and welcomed their children Jennifer, Mike and Beth in the years that followed. Mary worked as a secretary for many years, retiring from ECM Hospital in 1990. In all of those years and thereafter, she appeared unstoppable as she worked to build a beautiful life for her family and leave an imprint on her community.
Mary exuded love and grace, and it could always be felt in the warmth of her smile. It’s not enough to say that it lit up a room – with inexplicable brightness, her smile lit the hearts, the souls, of everyone that knew her. Fortunately for all of us, the list of those that knew her is long.
Mary was a Sunday school teacher for years and involved in many church, school and civic activities. She was a member of the church of Christ at Macedonia. She cared deeply about the history of her home; she was a founding member of the Natchez Trace Genealogical Society and a member of the UDC. She was also appointed to the Lauderdale County Draft Board by President Ronald Reagan in 1981. She loved to build collections; she saw the beauty in every item she found, from simple ceramic bowls to hand painted baskets to worn, yet wonderful, glass bottles. She shared this love with her community as a founding member of the Muscle Shoals Bottle Club.
Mary’s extraordinary drive and enduring selflessness benefited everyone around her, but most of all, her family. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was someone you could always count on – for a helping hand, a delicious meal, a listening ear, a much needed laugh. With a smile on her face, she sang songs to her children, to her grandchildren, and to her great-grandchildren, that they will always remember. As her three children raised their families across different state lines, she earned three new names: Nannie, Grammy, and Granny. Though they all call her something different, her descendants are united under the legacy that she left: Love.
More than anything, Mary was a believer – she believed in her family and made sure they always knew it. And she believed in God, in the heavenly home that awaits us. She joined that home as the endless stars shone and the moonflowers bloomed over the land she’d always loved, and she was surrounded by those that loved her. Mary will forever be missed – but she will always be with us.
Mary is survived by her husband of 63 years, Lloyd C. “Bill” Clemmons; one son, Mike Clemmons (Diania); two daughters, Jennifer Hardy (Michael McNamara), Beth Guthrie (Brett); a sister, Margaret Wright; a brother, Thomas Young (Sue); brother-in-law, Jerry Warren; sister-in-law, Charlotte Bretherick (Ben); grandchildren Dr. Emily Hardy (Graham Hindle), Nick Clemmons (Ruth), Will Hardy, Tyler Clemmons (Kristen), Caroline Randolph (Ryan), Robby Guthrie (Jessica), Kathryn Clemmons, Gillian Bussey (Austin), Elizabeth Guthrie, Claire Clemmons; great-grandchildren Rowan Randolph, Clyde Clemmons, Ezra Clemmons, Laine Randolph; numerous nieces and nephews and a host of dear friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents Sam and Robbie Young, brother Sam Young, Jr., and sisters Lola Askew and Nell Warren.
Visitation will be Saturday from 12 to 2 p.m. at Greenview Funeral Home. Funeral will begin at 2 p.m. in the funeral home chapel. Burial will follow in Greenview Memorial Park. Eulogy will be delivered by Mary’s son-in-law Congressman Brett Guthrie. Pallbearers will be grandsons Nick Clemmons, Tyler Clemmons, Will Hardy, and Ryan Randolph, as well as friends Michael McNamara and Eddie Walker. Donations can be made to the charity of your choice or to Preferred Home Health and Hospice.