Mary Pope Asken

She was born March 28th, 1937 in Philadelphia, MS. She moved to Pearl, MS in 1961. For many years she was a devoted housewife and mother. In the late 60's she worked for the Mississippi Library Commission. In 1971, she opened and operated a daycare called Kiddie Kollege in Pearl and there she loved and cared for countless children until she closed the business in 1990. She then went to work for the Rankin County Tax Collector's Office until her retirement.

She was preceded in death by her first husband of 35 years, Paul D. Pope, Sr. and her second husband of 12 years, Dennis Asken; parents, Andrew H. Williamson and Addie Lee Williamson; sister, Margaret Rogers; brothers, Tom Billy Williamson and Jack Williamson.

She is survived by her daughter, Paula Neal; sons, Danny Pope(Louanne) and Kenny Pope(Leigh); grandchildren, Keither Dennis(Sharon), Danielle Neal, Haylee Ambrose(Dustin), Andrew Pope and Caleb Pope; great-grandchildren, Keither Bradley "KB" Dennis and Addie Lee Dennis; brother, Jerry Williamson (Ruth); sisters, Bea Martin(Bill) and Betty Edmondson(Martin); as well as a host of nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

The family wants to thank Dr. Grace Shumaker, Baptist Hospital and Hospice Ministries for their care given to our mother in the last 2 years before her passing and a very special Thank You to Faye Shavers for her loving care and special Christian relationship that she shared with our mother.

Visitation will be Monday, August 25, 2014 from 4pm -8pm at Baldwin-Lee Funeral Home in Pearl. Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 10:30am at McLaurin Heights United Methodist Church in Pearl with interment to follow at Lakewood Memorial Park.