Mary Virginia Stone

A private service will be held at Mount Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home & Cemetery. This will be Livestreamed on Facebook on Saturday, May 2nd at 11:00am: www.fb.com/MtMoriahNewcomer

She was born on December 29, 1927 at home at 2828 Bales in Kansas City, Missouri to the union of Ezekiel Johnson and Ophelia Hayes Johnson. Mary Virginia was the youngest of four children.

Mary Virginia was preceded in death by her parents, Ezekiel and Ophelia Johnson; two brothers Ezekiel Johnson, Jr. and Edwin Johnson; and a son, James Paul Parker.

Mary Virginia is survived by her husband, Kenneth Waldo Stone, Sr. of Kansas City, Missouri. She has one surviving brother Larnell Johnson, of Kansas City, Kansas. She married the late Leonard Paul Parker and to this union two children were born, James (Jimmy) Paul Parker and Saundra Lee Parker Hayes. On May 23, 1952, Kenneth Waldo Stone, Sr. and Mary Virginia were married and to this union Kenneth (Kenny) Waldo Stone, Jr. was born.

Mary Virginia worked at Kansas City, Missouri City Hall as a Passenger Elevator Operator. She also worked for Trinity Lutheran Hospital in the Printing Department. She was recruited to work in downtown Kansas City at the YWCA (Young Women’s Christian Association). She was a receptionist/manager and she was so wonderful and amazing with the day care children that she continued her education, training and certifications to become a Preschool Teacher. It was always such a joy for her to teach children and all the children and the parents loved her. She was later promoted to Associate Director of the YWCA Day Care Program and she remained there 18 years until her retirement.

Mary Virginia’s job did not stop after retirement. She was a successful real estate property owner of multiple residential properties. She had a strong work ethic and she was the best Wife, Mother and Grandmother (Mamanem) to all of her grandkids and close family and friends 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There was rarely a time she did not answer her phone and provide a listening ear and the best advice. She was very attentive, full of family history and wisdom and encouraged and prayed for everyone. She was a great motivator and the Commander-In-Chief of 43rd and Benton Blvd.

She loved cooking and was an impeccable designer of their beautiful home and the family heirlooms all had a beautiful story of family history. She loved fragrances and had the most beautiful and eclectic array of perfume bottles. Her floral gardens were breath taking. She always said that she raised “GOOD” children and they along with her grandchildren were gifts from God. She was always so proud of everyone’s accomplishments and she did not hold her breath when you needed to be corrected in order to stay focused. The result of her love and discipline was intelligent, hardworking and upstanding citizens in the community.

She was an active member of St. Luke’s AME Church in Westport, where she was an active choir member with a beautiful soprano voice. Her faith and service to the church was a perfect example of how she always inspired her family. Her favorite Bible scripture was the 23rd Psalm and her favorite Spiritual songs were "Amazing Grace", "Nearer My God to Thee" and "Have Thine Own Way Lord". Westport is where Mary Virginia and her siblings were raised and to this honor, she was featured in A Step Above The Plaza, a documentary of the how the African Americans in Westport paved the way for the development of the community.

Mary Virginia’s fashion savvy was always the talk of any family function or event she attended. She loved the color black, with a splash of floral and her infamous big sunglasses and fancy hats was always a staple accessory. She loved to sing her favorite Spirituals and the Blues and dance the Two Step. Her celebrity/fashion Icon was Joan Rivers and she would laugh at her comedy shows every time she was on television.

Left to cherish her memory is her loving husband of 68 years, Kenneth Waldo Stone, Sr. (Laddy), Daughter, Saundra Lee (James) Hayes; son, Kenneth (Vickie) Waldo Stone, Jr.; 10 grandchildren, Damon (Angela) Kent Hayes; Michelle Dunmore, Stephanie Parker, Stacey (Herman) Callands, Sharonda Jordan, Craig (Renee) Hayes, Shinda (Phillip) Starr, Ian (Audrey) Hayes, Malika (Shaun) Stone, Darren (Kendra) Stone; 25 great-grandchildren, Micah Sean, Brittany, Keiya, Joshua, DeAndre, Asia, Carlos, Londyn, Porsha, Angel, Jeremiah, Tiffany, Derek, Lance, D’Anthony, Laila, Bella, Cameron, Parker, Ian Maximus, Logan, Lucas, Kylie, Kennedy and Alexander; 10 great-great-grandchildren, Khalil, Za’Vyana, Za’Vion, Kylee, Taraji, Jayden, Jordan, Jonah, Torrie and Savannah. She also left to cherish her memory a host of nieces and nephews and very close family members, John and Helen Walker, Farrah Walker and her daughter Taylor Easterwood.

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A LOVING TRIBUTE TO OUR MAMANEM MARY VIRGINIA STONE

Damon Hayes - Grandson - John 13:34: A new command I give you: Love one another. These words epitomize everything about my Grandmother, Mary Virginia Stone (Mamanem). Those who knew her understood she was so much more than just a mother to everyone, and she lived every minute of every day giving her time, talent and energy for others. Before there was FEMA, CIA or CNN and any other agency, there was the Command Center at 43rd and Benton operated 24/7, 365 days a week by General Virginia Stone. She was engaged and involved in every aspect of everyone’s life who wanted to receive her love and attention. She was attentive and had compassion for all her family, friends and enemies’ lives.

One word she would always share with me is “The Cost”. This meant how one would define a person’s allocation of their love, energy, time and talent in your relationships. One life transforming conversation we had five years ago occurred as we were discussing my upcoming retirement ceremony. She wanted to know about the ceremony and about my pension. I explained to her the Police Department would pay 75% of my salary for the rest of my life. She rejoiced and said, “Oh, I had a job once and they provided a pension, your Grandfather allowed me to leave it when you were six months old, I left it for you.” I said, “Hold on, you left it for me? You had no idea how I would turn out in life, why did you do that?” She said, “Baby, that was The Cost. I loved you and I knew you would turn out good. I invested in you and I was right.”

When I got off the phone, I shut the office door and I cried. I could not comprehend how could she love me so much that she would give up her career and a future pension for me and you have no idea how I was going to turn out in life. That my friend, is “The Cost”. Whose life are you investing in?

Craig Hayes – Grandson - Mamanem was a consistent guiding light throughout my life. We will continue her legacy of strength and love of family forever.

Angel Taylor – Great Granddaughter – My forever young at heart Mamanem. All my memories include the performances we put on for you at the family parties. There are so many wonderful memories that will be cherished forever. Give my PawPaw a hug for me.

Ian Hayes – Grandson – Mamanem was a best friend to everyone. She always lent an ear when you needed to laugh, cry or vent about whatever was going on in your life. She was always genuinely meant it when she asked, “How are you doing?”, because she actually really wanted to know.

Laila Stone-Hill – Great Granddaughter – A few things I am going to miss about Mamanem are the stories she always told me of her childhood.

Bella Stone-Hill – Great Granddaughter – I will miss the laughs we had and helping her.

Malika Stone – Granddaughter – I will miss her being scared of people and locking doors when they got too close to her car. I will miss taking her shopping.

Londyn Parker – Great Granddaughter – Mamanem, my first best friend. I can remember calling you every day as a kid and you would talk to me for hours on the phone with a 100 ft. cord. You would drag the phone around the house while you completed house duties because you didn’t have a cordless phone yet. LOL. I miss you and love you so much!

Brittany Burke (Hayes) – Great Granddaughter – Mamanem was not only my Great Grandmother but my best friend. She taught me everything from my alphabet to how to be a lady and to that I am forever grateful. I am blessed to have such a powerful woman in my life.

Herman Callands – Grandson – I thank God for putting a loving and wonderful person in my life. I love you Mamanem and rest in peace.

Jeremiah Palmer – Great Grandson – Mamanem taught me a realistic perspective of life. She always told me If you don’t get it by now, you never will.

Stacey Callands (Hayes) – Granddaughter – Mamanem you will forever be my best friend. You taught me how to apply makeup and you gave me fashion tips. Our long talks on the phone always made me laugh and cry. You instilled so much wisdom in my heart and soul and I promise to make you proud and continue to show love and virtue to my family.

Saundra Hayes (Parker) – Daughter – On Angel’s wings you were taken, but in my heart you will stay. In God’s light you will rest until we meet again one day.

Stephanie Parker – Granddaughter – I can’t even begin to say how much my heartaches for my Grandmother Mary Virginia Stone. She brought so much love and joy to everyone. She knew how to turn sadness into joy. She had the kind of spirit that radiated to those around her, so gentle and compassionate. She had such a divine nature. Her legacy will live on through all her great work that she has done for the family. We will miss her terribly.

Sharonda Jordan – Granddaughter – Mary Virginia Stone, my Grandmother a loving, caring soul who gave her goodness to us all. She was a good person, a good daughter, a good friend, a good wife, a good mother, a good grandmother and a good servant of the Lord. She was a good cook and gave good advice. She said never be caught without your makeup and hair looking good. She had a good comical way with people. We will always be thankful for her goodness and talents that was shown to us.

Michelle Re’nee – Granddaughter – I am deeply saddened by the passing of my lovely Grandmother. I cannot believe that she is no longer with us, but she was needed in HEAVEN. She was a very BEAUTIFUL, STRONG, COURAGEOUS, GOD FEARING woman with a kindhearted soul. She was a listening ear when you needed it and she also set you straight if you needed it. I am going to miss my Grandma so much. Until we meet again, REST IN HEAVEN.

Joyce Eddy – Niece - To my loving Aunt Prime. The greatest Auntie ever! Beautiful, amazing, classy, intelligent, elegant and the most understanding person in the world to me. She was like my rose and I will miss her.