Mary was born on August 1, 1930 in Pickens, South Carolina to James Gilliland and Ressie Mae Moser Holder. When her father died at the young age of 39, the family was taken in by her uncle, Earl Moser, who helped provide for them along with numerous other family members. It was always very important to her to acknowledge the impact he made on not only their lives, but the lives of many. Before graduating from Pickens High School in 1947 (the last year they had only 11 grades) she began working at Finley’s Market where she met Hubert William Lark, who she eventually married in 1948. They enjoyed 59 years of marriage before he passed away in 2007.
After her marriage, she began working at REA (now Blue Ridge Electric Co-op) until their children, Ronny and Penny, were born. Once Ronny was kindergarten age, she began teaching at Pickens First Baptist Kindergarten where she continued to teach and open the minds of small children to the world for 38 years. Mary lived to see the spark of understanding in the eyes of a child and continued to learn something new every day of her life. She was devoted to her church and taught Sunday School for close to 50 years, again teaching so many young children the importance of faith and giving them a love for the Bible. She taught piano lessons for years and also art lessons for a while – constantly trying to grow and help others around her to do the same. She sold World Book Encyclopedia for many years, enjoying meeting and impacting many people around Pickens and the upstate, instilling in them the importance of education. She was born to travel and visited many countries over the years, enjoying touching every part of God’s earth she could. She even smuggled Bibles into Russia on her trip there. Mary never met a stranger and when she retired from kindergarten, she started planting flowers – everywhere! She would give them away and others shared with her and she enjoyed watching them sprout and grow every year, keeping meticulous records of what they were and where they came from. She made numerous friends just from posting a “free flowers” sign in her yard so she could share them.
She liked nothing better than for all of her family to gather for Sunday lunch so she could cook her famous fried chicken and banana pudding! We have many good memories of those times together.
Mary is survived by one daughter: Penelope Lynn “Penny” Lark (Gary Douty); one daughter-in-law: Jean B. Lark; one grandson: Patrick W. Lark; one granddaughter: Jessica L. Morris (T.R.); great-grandchildren: Jeremy Cassell (Catherine), Adriana Cassell, and Grace Morris; one sister: Mozelle Stewart (Garvin); one sister-in-law: Judy Holder; along with many nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband and her parents, Mary was preceded in death by her son: Ronald Patrick Lark; brothers: Percy Hugh Holder, Gilliland Earl “Dick” Holder, and Robert Ludlow Holder.
The family would like to thank all the caregivers at Foothills Retirement Community who lovingly cared for her the past 5 ½ years and gave her a home she loved. The family is eternally grateful for you! Also, thanks to Interim Hospice for their help in her final days.
Funeral Services will be conducted at 2:00 PM on Monday, August 29, 2022 in the Chapel of Dillard Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Park.
The family will receive friends from 12:45 PM until 1:45 PM prior to the service.
Flowers are welcome or memorial donations may be made to Pickens First Baptist Church, 406 Main Street, Pickens, SC 20671 or a charity of your choice.
The family will be at their respective homes.
Online condolences may be expressed by visiting www.dillardfunerals.com. Dillard Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
