Visitation will be Monday, August 5, at 1 p.m. and a Memorial Service will follow at 2 p.m. at Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, 3700 N Germantown Parkway; Bartlett, Tennessee 38133. Burial will immediately follow the service at the same location.
A native of Pontotoc, Mississippi, and the daughter of Elsie Edith Shannon Roberson and James Samuel Roberson, Mary Ann was born on January 3, 1931. She lived in Memphis for more than 60 years. She married Johnny Herndon of Troy (Pontotoc County), Mississippi, on March 7, 1959; he passed away in 1976.
After graduating from Pontotoc High School, Mary Ann attended Mississippi State College for Women (MSCW-MUW) in Columbus where she obtained a Bachelor of Science in Education.
For many years, she was a member of Highland Heights Baptist Church and later Leawood Baptist Church. Mary Ann loved to sing in her church choirs and through the years was known for her musical talent and beautiful voice. In her young adult years, when she returned home to Mississippi, she would often sing a solo, many times “How Great Thou Art,” at her home church - First Baptist Church of Pontotoc.
She participated in Mother’s Day Out at Highland Heights Baptist Church, and she taught Sunday School at both Highland Heights and Leawood.
Mary Ann loved children, and with her smile and personality, taught them and prepared them for life through songs, games, and activities. She had a daycare in her Raleigh home for 10 years in the house that she and Johnny moved into in 1965 and where she lived for basically the rest of her life.
Mary Ann taught in the Memphis City School system for 32 years at Klondike Elementary, Charjean Elementary, and Brookmeade Elementary. Hundreds of children were positively influenced by her at the schools where she taught and in her home daycare. Many of them and their families stayed in touch with Mary Ann through the years and would visit or send cards at Christmas and on her birthday.
Mary Ann is survived by her son, Jody Herndon, of Memphis, and grandsons Branan Herndon and Gannon Herndon, both of Memphis. She was proud of her son and grandsons and would share pictures and updates often with family and friends.
In addition to her parents and husband, Mary Ann was preceded in death by two sisters - Edith Roberson Weatherly and Jean Roberson Wood - and two brothers - Billy Roberson and Richard Roberson; also her sister-in-law Mattie Lou Herndon Edwards, and two brothers-in-law, J.L. Herndon and Joe Herndon.
Mary Ann was blessed with many good friends and neighbors who were special to her through the years.
Kelly Dobbins, a niece, and her husband Laurence, assisted Mary Ann in many ways, especially throughout the last years of her life.
The family requests in honor and memory of Mary Ann that, if you choose to do so, please give to the charity or church of your choice.
