Mary Stokes

Ecru - Mary Jo Maynard Stokes, 86, died Saturday, February 7, 2009, at Sanctuary Hospice House in Tupelo after a lengthy illness. She was born March 13, 1922, in the Bissell Community to L. C. and Susie Cooley Maynard. She was raised in the Bissell Community area, attended the Old Union School and graduated from East Tupelo High School. She lived many years in Belden. She was the widow of Jack Stokes who preceded her in death on November 17, 1981. Before her marriage, she worked at Hardins Bakery. After her child was in school, she returned to work at Hunter-Sadler and later Joyner-Fields. She enjoyed working and remained employed until retiring at the age of 70. For the past ten years, she had lived in Ecru to be near her daughter. She loved traveling, talking with people and was a member of Cairo Baptist Church in Ecru.

Services will be 1 p.m. Tuesday, February 10, 2009 at Cairo Baptist Church with Rev. Sam Holcomb and Rev. Jerry Sanford officiating. Burial will be in Tupelo Memorial Park. W. E. Pegues Funeral Directors is in charge of the arrangements.

Survivors include her daughter, Nancy Hamblin and husband, Kenneth, of Ecru; two sisters, Ann Stacy of the Furrs Community and Dot Seale of Pontotoc; one brother, Billy Maynard and wife, Vonda, of the Furrs Community; three granddaughters, Donna Hall of Pontotoc, Vickie Barnes of Nettleton and Pam Robertson of New Albany; five great grandchildren, Chris Hamblin, Kenny Hall, Megan Warren, Logan Barnes and Kyle Robertson.

She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; one sister, Iris Boland and one brother, L. C. Maynard, Jr.

Pallbearers will be Tommy Dillard, Harlan Hamblin, Jimmy Hamblin, David Robertson, David Morgan and James Matthews.

Honorary pallbearers will be the members of the Senior Ladies Sunday School of the Cairo Baptist Church.

Visitation will be 5 - 9 p.m. tonight at the church and will continue Tuesday, 10:00 a.m. until service time.

Expressions of sympathy may be left at www.peguesfuneralhome.com