Mary Louise Whitehead

Mary Louise Froman Whitehead was born September 16th 1956 in Columbus, Mississippi. Mary spent her final months fighting with all of her strength at Memorial Hermann Hospital in the Texas Medical Center where her untimely passing was December 11th 2024.

Mary was preceded in death by her father, Elmer Froman and mother Louise McBride Froman.

Mary was survived by her husband William Leon Whitehead JR, son William Leon Whitehead III, daughter Whitney Michelle Whitehead and daughter Schatzi Renee Whitehead Collier with husband Tony Collier of Columbus, Mississippi, grandson Parker Whitehead, granddaughter Korene (Kori) Hankins, her sister Janice Froman of Columbus, Mississippi, brother-in-law Walter Whitehead living with her in Cypress, TX and sister-in-law Annie Richardson in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

Mary grew up in Columbus, Mississippi where she graduated from Caldwell High School in 1973. She was a member of Calvary Baptist Church. In 1976, when Mary was 20, she married William (Billy) Whitehead JR. While in Mississippi they owned Bob’s Restaurant and Bar together. Six years later they moved to Houston, Texas where Mary became and would retire as a bookkeeper and accountant for several energy companies.

Mary was blessed with her first child, from Billy’s previous marriage, Schatzi Whitehead age 4. Later that year she was able to have her first baby, William Whitehead III on December 25th 1976, despite being told not to by her doctors. She proved that she was the only one who would be in charge of what she could or could not do. She proved that again 10 years later on May 4th, 1986 when she gave birth to Whitney Michelle Whitehead. Mary was then blessed with 2 grandchildren Kori Hankins and Parker Whitehead. Her family was her pride and joy. Mary Whitehead was the cornerstone of her family; she was the rock that held it all together.

Mary learned to be a hard worker by the lessons from her mother and father. She was an accountant and bookkeeper for several energy companies, including GDF Suez Energy, until she retired in 2019. She kept in touch and added her colleagues and friends into her family as well.

Mary and Billy lived in Houston, TX for about forty-two years. She always longed to be back in Mississippi but she sacrificed her wants for the betterment of her family. Though, her heart was still in the little town where her mother and father was, and sister still lives. Mary is 7 years older than her sister, Janice Froman, and many miles away, but that didn’t stop her from talking to her on the phone everyday. As she would do with her mom and best friend Connie, for hours upon hours at a time.

In Texas, Mary became a sports-mom who loved watching her kids play football, basketball and baseball among other sports. Mary loved to cook and “put her own spin” on the recipe, so nothing would become boring. She loved to watch the Mississippi State Bulldogs and became very animated, yelling at the TV when they did poorly, which was quite often. Mary loved Christmas! Year after year, accumulating figurines and trinkets of all sorts, including a massive miniature Christmas Village that she built and set up all over her home every year; until there was no more room to even set a drink on a table.

In her latest years she got the opportunity to raise her grandson Parker Whitehead who loves wrestling. This allowed Mary to get back to her sports-mom persona as she had been in the past with “Little” Billy, Schatzi, and Whitney. But what Mary loved most was her family and friends in both Texas and Mississippi, as they were the utmost importance to her.

Mary Whitehead was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She was a generous woman sacrificing herself for her family. But most of all she was a fighter. She survived multiple heart surgeries and procedures. She defied medical science all of her life. Quitting was not in her vocabulary as Mary was the inspiration for so many. She was truly the foundation and rock of her family.

Mary Whitehead will be missed tremendously. She will be remembered and loved by all that knew her for eternity to come. Until we meet again we all “Love You Bunches”. Goodbye Momma