She was born July 6, 1932 in Alexander City, Alabama. Mary attended First Baptist Church of Douglasville and was active in her Sunday School class. She enjoyed cooking and at one time had been the owner of a home-style restaurant. A jack of all trades, Mary had done a little bit of everything—she was the first woman to pour asphalt on a loading dock while working for Trumble Asphalt, she welded and soldered, and had worked at the cotton mills in Douglasville and Atlanta. In her spare time she enjoyed sewing, yardwork and cleaning the pool. Even though Mary couldn’t carry a tune, she enjoyed singing. She loved harassing her youngest son, Michael. She stayed very active until recently. Mary loved God, her family, Fox News, Dr. Tom Varughese and Trump. When she was a little girl, she appeared on Captain Kangaroo.
She was preceded in death by her husband of over 30 years, Otis Henry Priest; infant son, Robert Kenneth Matthews, Jr., daughter, Dolly Matthews, and parents, Robert and Mamie (Baxter) McLaughlin.
Those left to cherish her memory are her daughters, Patricia Bearden and Barbara Waldrop (Dennis); sons, Richard Priest (Maria) and Michael Priest; sister, Betty Duffee; 13 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; 7 great-great-grandchildren; as well as numerous extended family members and a host of friends.
Private services are being planned and a public service will be announced at a later date.
If ordering a floral tribute, please contact our preferred florist for guaranteed service: Frances Florist, 12641 Veterans Memorial Highway Douglasville, GA, (770) 949-8711 or online at https://www.francesflorist.net
Whitley-Garner at Rosehaven is honored to be entrusted with the services of Mrs. Mary Catherine Priest.
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