Mary Hanks

TUPELO - Mary Little Hanks, 74, died Monday, Feb. 28, 2011, at Sanctuary Hospice House in Tupelo. She was born April 20, 1936, to John and Ethel Little of Black Zion at Pontotoc. She graduated from Pontotoc High School in 1956, and was a member of the 1953-56 basketball team, playing the position of guard. She married Kenneth Hanks on Dec. 1, 1956. Mrs. Hanks retired from Hancock Fabrics where she worked for 19 years. She also worked at Blue Bell Manufacturing Co. of Tupelo for 19 years. She was a member of West Jackson Street Baptist Church. She loved playing softball and played for Exxon and Willis Motors from 1967-1999, winning the State Class C Championship in 1984. She and her husband began collecting antique cars in 1999, and showed their cars in Alabama, Florida, Tennessee and Louisiana. She was a member of the North Mississippi Cruisers Car Club.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at The Jefferson Street Chapel of W.E. Pegues with Rev. Bert Harper officiating. Burial will be in Black Zion Cemetery at Pontotoc.

Survivors include her husband of 54 years, Kenneth Hanks; one son, Kenney Mack Hanks (Sarah Anne); two grandsons, Hunter Dalton Hanks and Jordan Walker Hanks, and one granddaughter, Katie Grace Hanks, all of Orlando, Fla.; one sister, Ann Brewer of Bartlett, Tenn.; one brother, Troy Little of Pearl; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; three sisters, Ruby Smitherman, Johnnie Warren and Francis "Jimmie" Little; and five brothers, Ed Little, William D. Little, Herman Little, Travis Little and James Arthur Little.

Pallbearers will be Dennis Hamilton, Drew Lumsden, Murray Coward, Kevin West, John Moore and John Warren.

Visitation will be from 4 until 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.