Mary Copeland Dunning

Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 16, 2011 at Calvary Baptist Church with the Rev. Bob Weber officiating. Burial will follow in Gardens of Memory Cemetery with Byrd Funeral Home on West Main Street directing. The family will receive friends at the church from 9:45 until 10:45 on Wednesday prior to service time.

Flowers are being accepted or memorials may be made to The Alabama Baptist Children’s Homes and Family Ministries, 1302 Ross Clark Circle, Dothan, AL, 36301.

Mrs. Dunning was born September 10, 1927, in Covington County, Alabama and lived the early years of her life there. She later resided in Orrville, Alabama. Following her marriage to Charles Marvin Dunning they moved to Dothan in 1954. She served as Executive Secretary to the Vice-President of Wallace Community College for many years. While putting her children through college, she pursued her education and earned her degree in elementary education from Troy University.

Mrs. Dunning enjoyed gardening, sewing, fishing and cooking. She was a member of the Golden K of Dothan and Calvary Baptist Church where she taught Sunday School for many years.

Survivors include five daughters, Patricia Hartsfield (Luke) of Birmingham, AL, Paula Walker (Mike) of Lafayette, LA, Peggy Mims (Max) of Abbeville, AL, Charlette Weber (Bob) of Camden, AL, Cheryl Dean (Chuck Exum) of Dothan, AL ; fifteen grandchildren, Chuck, Shannon and Chad Hartsfield, Michael, Paul, Sean and Timothy Walker, Chris Mims, Seth, Samuel, JR, Sarah and David Weber, Ashley Skinner and Wes Dean; twelve great-grandchildren; a brother, Derward Copeland (Margie) of Raleigh, NC; two sisters, Lurlene Henry and Janet Godsey (Howard) of Selma, AL; a special friend, Young Rainer of Eufaula, AL; several nieces and nephews also survive.

Grandsons will serve as pallbearers.

The family would like to thank the special friends and staff at The Terrace at Grove Park for the loving care extended to their mother.

Arrangements under the direction of Byrd Funeral Home, Dothan, AL.