Mary Francis Lavender

Mary Francis Lavender born was born Jan. 11, 1944. She grew up in Blytheville on the corner of Elm Street. She was better known as Mae to her siblings and Mary Francis to everyone else. She moved to Chicago, Ill., at age 19 until she returned back to Blytheville in 1978. Early in life she accepted Christ. She attended Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church, and she was a gifted singer, who loved singing for the Lord. She later Joined New Mount Olive and stayed a member until God called her home.

She met the love of her life, Joe Lavender, and was married Feb. 16, 1988, and fellowshiped at the same church. They begin to seek God with their whole heart, praying, studying and living the word of God.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Ruth Williams, sister, Shirley K. Brown, and stepdaughter, Joanne Lavender, and she then entered into rest Thursday, May 18, 2023.

She is cherished in memory by her husband, Joe Lavender; five children, Debra Ann Hinton, Pamela Ann Adewale, Diane Williams, Melody Delois Williams and Trishonna Yvette Watkins, all of Fort Worth, Texas; stepchildren, Thomas (Rita) Lavender of Killeen, Texas, Crystal Lavender, Cynthia Lavender, Joseph (Tammie) Lavender of Las Vegas, Nev.; and siblings, Stanley (Bethtina) Williams of, Atlanta, Ga., Thomas (Mary) Williams, Z’Ann (Jessie) Mosby, Walter (Glenda) Falls, all from Fort Worth, Texas; six grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; 16 step-grandchildren; host of nieces, nephews, great cousins, great nieces, great nephews, great cousins and a vast number of loving friends.

Visitation will be Saturday, May 27, from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. at New Mt. Olive M.B. Church in Blytheville. Funeral service will follow at 1 p.m. Interment will be at Sandy Ridge Cemetery in Burdette.

Services are entrusted to Gary Wolfe at Wolfe Brothers Funeral Home & Cremation, 634 W. Main Street, Blytheville, AR, 870-900-0010.