Funeral services were held Friday, May 15, 2015, at Holly Springs CME Church, Bassfield, for Mrs. Mary G. Reese, 97, who died Saturday, May 9, at her residence. Rev. Eddie Dixon, officiated with interment following in the Reese Cemetery, Bassfield. Johnson Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Mary G. Reese was born to the late Mance and Pella McNair Griffith in Jefferson Davis County. She was raised in the Santee Community and attended rural school and Prentiss Institute. She was married to the late Daniel Reese, Sr. and to this union, seven children were born. She was a member of Holly Springs CME Church where she served as stewardess, missionary and served on the Usher Board. She also attended Sunday school faithfully until her health failed her.

“Ma” or “Granny Mary” as she was lovingly called was a terrific cool and was widely known for her famous chicken and dumplings, tea cakes, collard greens and the list goes on.

She was preceded in death by two sons, PFC Daniel Reese, Jr. and Louis Earl Reese; two grandsons, Charles Reese, Jr. and Rev. Mario Graves, two sisters; and five brothers.

She is survived is by four daughters, Ellawease (Clarence) Barnes, Mae Ruth (Bufford) Hawthorne, Jr. both of Bassfield, Brenda Lee of Ellisville, and Luvenia (Robert) Berkhalter of Harvey, LA; four sons, Charles (Cassie) Reese, George Reese and Johnnie C. Reese both of Bassfield, Willie Glen (Ann) Reese of Hattiesburg; one sister, Lou Ella Hall of Ellisville; one brother, James Griffith of Bassfield; one daughter-in-law, Myrtis Reese of Bassfield; one grandson she raised as her own, Lloyd (Tangela) Reese; two special friends, Bertha Porter and Dorothy Middleton; 36 grandchildren; many other relatives and friends.