Obituaries

On May 20, 2016 Mary L. Reese quietly departed this life to be with her Heavenly father in her sleep after a brief stay at the Twin Fountain Nursing Home of Hogansville, Georgia.

Mary Lea White was the second daughter born to Samuel Richard White and Mary Helen Ross White on June 15, 1922. She was born in Manassas, Virginia where she attended grade school and later finished her education in Washington, D.C. She was married to Johnnie Lockley at an early age, no children were born to this union. They happily helped raise Russell (Skippy) until her sister Edna moved to Alexandria, Virginia.

In her working years she lived in New Jersey and New York as a housekeeper. She later moved to Philadelphia and then to Washington, D.C. where she lived most of her life as a housekeeper and raised three children until she moved to Ashland, Kentucky along with her new husband, Roger Reese.

She was an avid evangelist and missionary. She along with her husband and friends in Kentucky conducted several revivals and traveled to many states spreading the good news. She was joined in her ministry by Shirley Laye of Washington, D.C.

Mary, as she was later called, loved to sing. She had an anointed voice and was asked to sing in all her services she attended. Her favorite song she loved to sing with her husband was, “We’ll Understand It, By and By and God Specializes.” Even in her late years at home she sang praises to the Glory of God all day and everyday.

During her years she did what she could for her nieces and nephews whom she loved. She was the God-Mother to Brenda Lee Brooks and Sheryl Pratt. She favored for years Skippy and Maureen having them live where she lived in Kentucky. She raised three children in D.C., Johnnie, Raymond and Jaye Johnson until she moved.

She leaves to mourn her death, husband Roger Reese of 50 years; brother-in-law, Albert Reese; three sisters-in-law, Julie Walker, Freedie Reese and Corraine Reese; two nephews, Milton and William Lee; four nieces, Brenda Brooks, Diantha Ross, Laureen Galloway and Theresa McCloud; and a host of great nieces and nephews, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her father, Samuel White; mother, Mary White; sisters, Edna, Virginia and Allena; nephew, Russell; nieces, Carolyn and Berlena.

FUNERAL SERVICE: Friday, May 27, 2016 1:00 M. L. Middlebrooks Memorial Chapel 220 Charlie Patterson Road Grantville, Georgia 30220

INTERMENT: Westview Cemetery West Boyd Road Hogansville, Georgia