Mary Flynn Edwards

Mary was born on October 30, 1957, in Jackson, Mississippi, to Charles and Dorothy Flynn. She graduated from Callaway High School in 1974 and went on to earn both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Special Education from The University of Southern Mississippi. She later earned two additional master’s degrees in Psychometry and Educational Administration from Mississippi College.

Mary dedicated 45 years of her life to education, shaping countless lives along the way. She spent 17 of those years as an assistant principal at Madison Central High School in Madison, where she became a beloved and trusted presence for students and staff alike. In 2018, she was honored as Assistant Principal of the Year for the state of Mississippi. Mary retired in 2022 but quickly returned to serve part-time in the district’s Special Education department, continuing her life’s calling.

What Mary gave to the world was something truly rare. While many are remembered through stories shared by family and close friends, Mary’s impact reached far beyond. There are countless students and teachers whose lives she touched—people she cared for, guided, and supported with her whole heart. She was the kind of principal students felt safe turning to, even if just to catch their breath. While her children, Brendan and Erin, were students, Mary delighted during the school day in hearing “Hey Momma!” or “Hey Mrs. Mary!” from the many who saw her as a second mother.

Beyond her dedication to education, Mary spent ten years working at Williams-Sonoma, where she enjoyed every second of it— surrounded by co-workers who became like family and learning the ins and outs of cookware and cooking. Mary had a deep love for life. She enjoyed traveling, attending concerts, and spending long, relaxing days at the beach—especially waiting for the Blue Angels to fly by. She especially loved eating boiled shrimp on the condo balcony while watching the sunset and listening to the waves. She loved doing for others without expecting anything in return and had a special soft spot for animals, particularly dogs. Her family finds comfort in imagining her reunited with her beloved boxers, Charlie and Lucy. Mary also loved reading and would happily take a spontaneous drive to the beach whenever she had the chance.

She was a devoted member of Chapel of the Cross, where she was warmly embraced by a church community that meant so much to her.

Mary is survived by her loving husband of 41 years, Wayne Edwards; her son, Brendan Edwards; her daughter, Erin Edwards (Alex Delgado); her dog, Sonny; her brother, Sean Flynn; her sister-in-law, Vicki Flynn; her nieces, Molly (Chad) Rogers and Ginny (Jason) Hanson; cousins, Patrick Cunliff, Charlie Ed Donald, George Donald, and Jeff Donald.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Dorothy Flynn; her brothers, Michalene and Shannon Flynn; her nephew Kevin Flynn; and cousins Wanda and Irving Cunliff.

Visitation will be held at Chapel of the Cross in Madison, MS on Saturday, May 16, 2026, from 9:00-11:00 AM, followed by a Celebration of Life at 11:00 AM.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to a no-kill animal rescue of your choice.