Born February 19, 1928 in Bartlett, TN.
Entered into eternal peace with her family at her side on March 24, 2018.
She was a lifelong resident of her beloved Bartlett where her family owned and ran the Norwood Brothers Dairy Farm on Stage Road where Wendy’s is currently located. Norwood Brothers Dairy was legendary for the story of the expensive bull that charged the train, losing the challenge when protecting his cows, it’s true. The dairy supplied Bartlett and the surrounding communities with the best chocolate milk and other dairy products.
She was a pioneering woman well ahead of her time and generation. As a single mother, she raised her three children after her husband Richard died in 1960, going back to school to complete her Registered Nurse degree. She moved her family to Chattahoochee Florida to satisfy her degree requirements by working in the State of Florida mental health institution. After graduation from St. Luke’s, she moved her family back to her beloved Bartlett.
She began her nursing career working at John Gaston as an ER nurse, later moving to the Durham Home on Stage Road as Nursing Director. She expanded her education by going back to school at the University of Tennessee, Memphis, graduating in the second Nurse Practitioner class from UT. As Director of the nursing home, she met Dr. Marshall Koonce whom she joined in private practice of Internal Medicine and research, which she loved. She always talked about testing Rogaine and documenting the side effect of hair growth. After many years of practice, she retired, enjoying the labors of her working life.
Retirement was good for Mom. After retirement, she became active in the Bartlett Historical Society providing her fellow Society members a direct link to prior Bartlett history and life in Bartlett. Mom told stories about the first TV in Bartlett, the WPA coming into Bartlett to install the first outhouse. She told the story of living in the UT dorm nursing college, taking the bus to school and on some weekends because Bartlett was so far away, taking the bus home to Bartlett to visit family. She loved carrying pictures of Stage Road, a small two lane winding road, showing her pictures to all that would listen to her stories of the “good ole Bartlett.”
Mary: our mother, friend, sister, grandmother and resident of her beloved Bartlett, will remain in our memories of our shared Bartlett history and her many contributions she made to our lives and community. Mary will be remembered each time we drive past the old Norwood Brothers Dairy Farm where the Wendy’s hamburger’s is now located, and when we drive past her beloved Bartlett High senior steps, long gone but not forgotten.
We love you Mom, Mary, Nurse and friend.
Preceded in death by her mother, Jessie C Norwood, father, Hardy Williams, husband, Richard Samuel Levy, companion and soulmate Jimmie Chandler, son David Levy, sisters Jeanette Williams, and Evelyn Williams House.
She leaves her loving memories to be cherished by her son; Richard Levy (Robin), daughter Joan Hinrichs (Mark), sister Ruth Ann Rosamond (Lomax), daughter-in-law Debbie Levy, grandson Chris Levy (Leslie) and great grandchildren Damien, Aidan and Reagan Levy.
Memorial donations may be made to:
strawberryplains.audubon.org
SPAC, 285 Plains Road, Holly Springs, MS 38635
CancerResearch.org
Cancer Research Institute
