Mary Louise James

Obituary For Mary Louise James

Mrs. Mary Louise James passed Friday, August 9, 2013.

Funeral Rites Outside of Mass for Mrs. Mary Louise James will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, August 16, 2013 at Grissom-Clark Chapel. The Reverend Mister Hilliard M. Lee, liturgist and officiant. Mrs. James, 88, recently of Stone Mountain, died Friday, August 9, 2013.

Viewing 2:00 – 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 15, 2013 at Grissom-Clark Funeral Home, 227 East Lake Dr., S.E. (at Memorial Dr.), www.grissom-clarkfh.com . 404-373-3191.

Mary Louise (Smiley) James was born in Miami , FL. on March 5, 1925. Upon graduation from high school she moved to Chicago , 11., met and married Navy Machinist Richard John James in 1946. They then moved to Richard's hometown of Buffalo, NY. Their union lasted until his death in April2010, sixty-three blessed and prosperous years.

They had 3 children: Richarda Joycelyn James (deceased 2001), Roderick John James (wife Kathleen} and Renee James Jakes (husband Samuel). There are 7 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. She also leaves behind a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and devoted friends. She is also preceded in death by her three brothers, Willie Paul (Peter), Sinclair and David.

Mary worked as a dietitian for the Buffalo, NY Diocesan from which she retired in 1986. From there she passionately pursued her hobbies of sewing and cooking from scratch and gardening with her husband , Richard . Through her sewing Mary developed a love for quilting.

While in Buffalo, NY., she was an active member at St. Nicholas Roman Catholic Church and Blessed Trinity Catholic Church. Mary joined St. Thomas More Catholic Church, Decatur, GA when she moved to Georgia. .. Mary was a strong-minded woman with a thirst for knowledge. Despite being orphaned by the age of 11, she was determined to succeed and teach her children to persevere . This is evident by how she lived her life inspiring, teaching and setting a positive example. Mary instilled in her extended family the importance of education and strong family values. She always stressed to the family the importance of good grades and civic involvement in the development of their future.

As her health began to fail, Mary never gave up. She pressed on to the end trying to plan and continue her quilting and gardening projects .

The family is thankful and grateful for her quiet, dignified and positive example.

Mary would not want you to dwell on her passing but to gain inspiration from her life. She fought the good fight, she finished the course, she kept the faith. *

Thank God for Her.-