Mary Elizabeth Pressley

Mary Elizabeth Pressley, daughter of the late Cleveland Jefferson and Sadie Elizabeth (Haynes) Knight, was born February 4, 1932 in Anniston, Alabama. She grew up in Calhoun County, Alabama and graduated from Oxford High School with the Class of 1951. On July 1, 1950, Mary was united in marriage to James Samuel Pressley. They shared 40 years of marriage when her lifelong love passed away in 1990. Mary and James were blessed with many great memories and also three children: Mary Ann, Linda Dianne and Jimmy Ray. From 1965 - 1970, Mary worked as a substitute teacher with the Calhoun County Education System and then worked as a store clerk/department manager at Masons and Walmart Department stores until 1980. As a teenager, Mary made a profession of faith and was a member of 1st Wesleyan Church of Anniston from 1948 - 1999. When she moved to Missouri in 1999, she became a member of the Waynesville, Missouri Church of the Nazarene where she served until her death in 2017. During her time at the churches, she served as a primary class Sunday School teacher and worked with multiple Children’s Programs and Vacation Bible Schools. She was in her element when she worked with children and had a special talent for sharing Bible stories with children. They loved Miss Mary and always knew she had hugs and cookies for them. She loved to see the smiles on their faces as they ate their cookies and told her about their latest adventures. Mary loved sharing Christ with all she met. She worked with church Missions programs (local and world-wide) from 1948 - 2017. She loved serving and meeting the needs of people. It did not matter if she was filling Shoe Boxes or Food Baskets, providing encouragement or just listening, her goal was to do what she could for Christ by loving and serving others. She had a natural love and concern for people. She served with the Wesleyan Missions Society (1948-1999), Nazarene Missions International (1999-2017), Plato Extension Club (1999-2015) and the Red Hat Club (2005-2007). Mary went home to be with Lord on Wednesday, June 7, 2017 in the Phelps County Regional Medical Center of Rolla, Missouri having attained the age of 85 years. She will be sadly missed, but fondly remembered by all those that knew and loved her. Mary leaves to cherish her memory, her three children: Mary Ann Sampson (Earl) of Jacksonville, AL, Linda Dianne Pressley of Plato, MO and Jimmy Ray Pressley (Sherrie) of Ohatchee, AL; three grandchildren: Stacy Bright (Sean) of Athens, AL, Cristy Marie Ray of Jacksonville, AL and Coleton Wyatt Pressley of Ohatchee, AL; three great grandchildren: Sierra Elizabeth Tucker (TJ) of Athens, AL, Tori Michelle McCrelles of Jacksonville, AL and Chloe Dianne Wilkins of Jacksonville, AL; one sister: Pearline Smith of Anniston, AL; other relatives and friends. In addition to her parents and husband, Mary was preceded in death by two brothers and their spouses: Burl Cleveland Knight and Mary and Earl Jefferson Knight and Sadie; and one sister and her spouse: Earline (Knight) and Charles Wellborn. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 4:00 p.m. Sunday, July 9, 2017 in the Waynesville Church of the Nazarene of Waynesville, MO. A second Celebration of Life service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, July 20, 2017 in the 1st Wesleyan Church of Anniston, AL. Inurnment will follow in the Maple Grove Cemetery of Anniston, AL. Arrangements are under the direction of Memorial Chapels and Crematory of Waynesville / St. Robert. Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Mary Pressley and may be left at the funeral home.

Mary Elizabeth Pressley

February 4, 1932 - June 7, 2017