Mary Evelyn Brady

Mary Evelyn “Penny” Brady died November 12, 2017, in Blue Ridge, Ga. She was a resident of Columbus Ga. for 69 of her 94 years. She was born to the late Annie G. Penn and Carey W. Penn on August 1, 1923 in Damon, Tx. She married Dr. Robert Brady of Columbus on March 12, 1949, a marriage that lasted 34 years until his death in 1983.

Penny earned her Bachelor of Religious Education from Scarrit College in Nashville, and later, her Masters of Education from Georgia State University. In 1947 she moved to Columbus to be the Minister of Education and Youth at St. Luke Methodist Church.

She taught in the Muscogee County School System from 1957 until 1985, all but one of those years at Clubview Elementary. During her career she was awarded the Valley Forge Freedom Award in Education and the Project Milestone Award from the Teachers College of Columbia University. While teaching, she served as president of the Muscogee Association of Educators as well as district director of the Georgia Association of Educators.

In the Columbus community she was president of the American Association of University Women. She was also appointed to the Mayor’s Biracial Council on Race Relations during the unrest of 1971.

Upon her retirement in 1985 she worked for 18 years as a volunteer at Callaway Gardens, especially enjoying working in the Butterfly Center as well as the annual plant fair. She also traveled extensively throughout the US and Canada pulling her pop-up camper. She loved bream fishing and the Atlanta Braves.

She remained a member of First Baptist Church from 1964 until today. Much of that time she was a teacher or director in the youth and adult Sunday School departments. She also served as president of the Young At Heart Club. She enjoyed telling a good story from her past, and loved to entertain a crowd.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Robert and six brothers and sisters, Juanita Richerson Burke, W. H. Penn, J.W. Penn, Cleatus Kilpper, Robert Penn, and Alvy Penn. She is survived by her daughter, Pat Brady, of Port Murray, N.J.; her son, Bob Brady, of Blue Ridge, Ga. and his wife Linda; grandsons Ted Lagonera of Port Murray, N.J.; Robbie Lagonera of Washington, N.J.; Buck Brady of Lebanon, N.H.; granddaughter Meredith Brady Mobley of Columbia, S.C.; their spouses; and five great grandchildren, Jacob Lagonera, Melanie Lagonera, Abigail Lagonera, Kilpper Mobley, and Charleigh Mobley.

Following a private, family internment, a memorial service will be conducted by Dr. Jimmy Elder at First Baptist Columbus at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, November 15, 2017 in the sanctuary. A reception gathering in the church’s fellowship hall will follow immediately.

Memorial donations may be given to First Baptist Church of Columbus or the Alzheimer’s Association.