Mary Mize

            Mrs. Mary Frances Davis Mize, age 92, passed from her earthly life to be with her Lord on July 11, 2019. Funeral services will be Monday, July 15, 2019, at 12 noon at First United Methodist Church in Brownsville, TN.  Visitation will be held  beginning at 11 AM at the church.  Burial for Mrs. Mize will be at Charleston Cemetery in Tipton County immediately following the service.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Jerry Mize, to whom she was married for 73 years. She was born to Justus and Lillian Davis in the Charleston, Tennessee community and was the youngest of five children.

            Mary’s main interest was the love she had for her family. She always desired to cook each family member’s favorite dish and make each one feel special. She was given a “Grandparent Book” a few years back by her grandchildren and one question was, “What did you want to be when you grew up?” Her response was, “I wanted to be a nurse or a school teacher, but, of course, I was never able to accomplish either in a professional way. I suppose I mostly wanted to be a housewife, mother, and granny more than anything, so maybe I really was a nurse and a teacher. It has been an exciting, rewarding, happy experience which I wouldn’t exchange for any career.”

            Mary was artistically gifted in gardening, arranging flowers, and sewing and handwork. She generously shared these gifts with others. She enjoyed studying the heritage and genealogy of her ancestors and was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She found joy in giving her time and talents to the First United Methodist Church by teaching children in Sunday School classes and Vacation Bible School. She loved studying God’s Word and was certainly His servant to others in the community, always behind the scenes, lending a hand or taking a meal.

            In recent years, her quality of life diminished dramatically as dementia drifted her into another world. Every Christmas holiday the reading of The Night Before Christmas was a tradition with her children and grandchildren. Even as dementia took over she could recite it, with a twinkle in her eyes. She loved family with all her heart, and they loved her back. May God be given the glory for a life well lived.

            Along with her parents and husband, Mary was preceded in death by her four siblings; Christine Yarbro, Lawrence Davis, Clyde Davis, and William Davis. She is survived by one son, Alan Mize (Ginger), Brentwood, TN; one daughter, Cheryl Hughes (Bob), Delaware, OH; four grandchildren, Cynthia Tkach (Rob), Michelle Cashner, Hunter Mize (Catherine), Rob Mize; and six great grandchildren, Andrew and Alex Tkach; Joel, Justin, and Jenna Cashner; and Winfield Mize.

            Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, 117 E. Franklin Street, Brownsville, TN 38012 or Charleston Cemetery, C/O Elaine Easley, 7378 HWY 179, Covington, TN 38019.