Obituary for Mary Alice Warford
Elder Mary Alice Warford
Mary Alice Warford was the second of thirteen children born to the late Clarence Johnson Sr. and the late Mrs. Sallie Mai Johnson. She was born in Union City, Tennessee on June 8, 1930. Eight of her siblings preceded her in death: Clarence, Walter, Evelyn, Virginia, Robert, Helen, Wilbert and Billy Ray.
On December 30, 1948 she was united in Holy Matrimony to the late Rev. James L. Beene of Guntown, Ms. They were happily married for 24 years, until his death. To this union five children were born: Shirley, Dorothy, James Jr, Michael and Janet. Both James Senior and James Jr. preceded her in death.
In 1986 Mary was reacquainted with her childhood friend whom she had met in the 1st grade, Elder Roland Warford of Mayfield, Kentucky. They married in 1987 and lived a blessed life until he also preceded her in death.
Her formal education was in Union City, Tennessee. Her religious instruction began at Bethel Church of God in Christ in Union City, Tn. She accepted the call into ministry to preach the gospel and would later become the Assistant Pastor at Solid Rock Church of the Living God in Chicago, Illinois under Elder Quillar Grice.
Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies. Being a hard worker and homemaker, Mary worked for many years at Chicago Rawhide Mfg. In 1973 she relocated to Toledo Ohio where she worked for St. Vincent Hospital until her retirement. During this time, she made and gained many friends, staying in touch with them until her untimely demise.
Mary had a gift of hospitality; her homes were always filled with visitors from in and out of town. Young people often looked forward to coming to her home for Sunday dinners. She was an excellent cook with her own special recipes. She was known for her desserts, especially her “pudding and sauce” which was always requested when she would visit her brothers in her hometown.
Mary enjoyed SHOPPING more than anything, she had a special love for shoes, wearing high heels until several years ago. Being an organized skillful homemaker, there was nothing you could ask for that she did not have at her fingertips.
Mary leaves to cherish her memory, three daughters, Shirley (John) Williams of Chicago, IL, Dorothy Thompson of Oak Park, IL and Janet Tate of Toledo, OH; one devoted son Michael Beene of Paducah, KY; two sisters Inez Mayberry and Linda Maberry, two brothers, John and Richard (Florence) Johnson, all of Union City, Tn, four sisters-in-law, Mary Beene of South Holland, IL, Julia Johnson of Union City, Tn, Lillie Mae Johnson of South Bend, IN and Dorothy Warford of Elizabethtown KY, one brother-in-law Walter Lairy, Jr, twelve grandchildren, sixteen great grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Also left to mourn are her Goddaughter, Crystal Raper of Chicago, IL, Special friends Earnestine Beene, Pauline Barnes, Bessie Oliver all of Toledo, OH and a host of other friends at the Lakewood Villas.
Mary Alice Warford was the second of thirteen children born to the late Clarence Johnson Sr. and the late Mrs. Sallie Mai Johnson. She was born in Union City, Tennessee on June 8, 1930. Eight of her siblings preceded her in death: Clarence, Walter, Evelyn, Virginia, Robert, Helen, Wilbert and Billy Ray.
On December 30, 1948 she was united in Holy Matrimony to the late Rev. James L. Beene of Guntown, Ms. They were happily married for 24 years, until his death. To this union five children were born: Shirley, Dorothy, James Jr, Michael and Janet. Both James Senior and James Jr. preceded her in death.
In 1986 Mary was reacquainted with her childhood friend whom she had met in the 1st grade, Elder Roland Warford of Mayfield, Kentucky. They married in 1987 and lived a blessed life until he also preceded her in death.
Her formal education was in Union City, Tennessee. Her religious instruction began at Bethel Church of God in Christ in Union City, Tn. She accepted the call into ministry to preach the gospel and would later become the Assistant Pastor at Solid Rock Church of the Living God in Chicago, Illinois under Elder Quillar Grice.
Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies. Being a hard worker and homemaker, Mary worked for many years at Chicago Rawhide Mfg. In 1973 she relocated to Toledo Ohio where she worked for St. Vincent Hospital until her retirement. During this time, she made and gained many friends, staying in touch with them until her untimely demise.
Mary had a gift of hospitality; her homes were always filled with visitors from in and out of town. Young people often looked forward to coming to her home for Sunday dinners. She was an excellent cook with her own special recipes. She was known for her desserts, especially her “pudding and sauce” which was always requested when she would visit her brothers in her hometown.
Mary enjoyed SHOPPING more than anything, she had a special love for shoes, wearing high heels until several years ago. Being an organized skillful homemaker, there was nothing you could ask for that she did not have at her fingertips.
Mary leaves to cherish her memory, three daughters, Shirley (John) Williams of Chicago, IL, Dorothy Thompson of Oak Park, IL and Janet Tate of Toledo, OH; one devoted son Michael Beene of Paducah, KY; two sisters Inez Mayberry and Linda Maberry, two brothers, John and Richard (Florence) Johnson, all of Union City, Tn, four sisters-in-law, Mary Beene of South Holland, IL, Julia Johnson of Union City, Tn, Lillie Mae Johnson of South Bend, IN and Dorothy Warford of Elizabethtown KY, one brother-in-law Walter Lairy, Jr, twelve grandchildren, sixteen great grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Also left to mourn are her Goddaughter, Crystal Raper of Chicago, IL, Special friends Earnestine Beene, Pauline Barnes, Bessie Oliver all of Toledo, OH and a host of other friends at the Lakewood Villas.