Mrs. Wortham started teaching me 50 years ago.  I took lessons for 8 years and performed in those recitals every year.  Even had a "Senior" recital and had a duet with her.  Somehow, it's a whole lot more special now that it was then.  Last saw her at a reunion at Glendale Baptist Church almost 25 years ago and have a beautiful picture of her as a treasured keepsake.  She always looked the same, just the hair color changed.  She had such an affect on my life that is still ongoing.
Carol (Pritchard) Shotwell

We were so saddened to hear the news of Mrs. Wortham's passing. She was a neighbor of ours, beginning in the 50's. Yes, we had lots of nice neighbors back in the day when things were so different. What made HER extra special to our family was that she was also our first piano teacher! And what a delightful piano teacher she was, not just to us, but to hundreds of other children in the area, and beyond. 

Mrs. Wortham's home and piano studio were on the same street as ours. They were near our elementary school and Glendale Baptist Church, the "venue" for our piano recitals where she proudly showcased her students' progress each year. These recitals, the high point of each piano lesson "season," had such a professional flair and refinement about them, punctuating the classiness that WAS Mrs. Wortham. Some of her piano students were lucky enough to get to perform with her, in duets! There were always "Programs" for each recital that she had creatively, lovingly, and meticulously created "in her spare time," we assume! Some of us are lucky enough to have held on to Programs through many years, and what happy memories they bring back! 

The time her students spent with Mrs. Wortham through her musical training, encouragement, and nurturing was time so well invested. She provided her students the "tools" to go on to become musicians in public school systems in areas such as choir accompanists and/or to become church organists, concert musicians, or to branch out into other areas of musical pursuits. She provided all students with musical knowledge to go through their lives with a better understanding of and a deep love and passion for music. She taught her students how to read music, the universal language known by too few, and to appreciate some of the great composers of all timessuch as Bach, Beethoven, Mozartby having them play, early on, simple forms of their music. She never fussed at or scolded us for not practicing enough, and she never displayed any disappointment for our possibly falling short of her expectations. Hopefully, mostly, we made her proud. 

Mrs. Wortham was such an inspiration to us back then with effects that have lasted for our lifetimes, and, we are absolutely certain, for countless others'. She will be missed on this earth, but she will always be remembered as a truly inspirational, impressionable pillar of our community as a piano teacher and as a sweet and a very beautiful and gentle lady. 

Francine, Robert, and Michele

My condolences to the family. May the God of all comfort sustain you at this time. 

LS

She was a great lady and my memories of her go way back to her teaching me piano when I was 5 years old. Our family loved her very much. Our heartfelt prayers go out to Melodie, David, Danny and their families. My Dad (Homer) sends his regrets that he cannot make the funeral but sends his love.

Hugs to all,

Brenda Tompkins Fuller

    I have sweet memories of Aubrey and me going tent camping at Garner the 1st time......your Mom and Dad were camped right across from us.  It came a downpour that night and we were tired and soaked.  That morning your Mom hollered out "breakfast is ready, y'all come eat" (never were sweeter words heard).  Throughout the trip she managed to have enough at each meal for us.  We had some fun times sitting on the washed out bridge just  visiting.   Will always remember her with sweet memories.

She was a beautiful lady and will be missed by many at the Chapel in the Hills.



I remember Mary Ann as a devoted care giver for Gene as he struggled with Alzheimers and as the lovely lady who played the piano so beautifully at the Chapel in the Hills;. She will be greatly missed, but we are comforted in knowing that she is now with her heavenly Father in heaven

Mary Ann was a great lady and will be missed by many, many people, especially those at Chapel in the Hills in Wimberley.

I played the organ at Chapel many times when Mary Ann was the pianist.  I always enjoyed that and have some good memories of those times--many of them humorous.  

We can be sure that she now is with God in Heaven for eternity.

OBITUARY

Mary Ann Wortham

October 31, 1930 – March 8, 2016

Forest Park Lawndale Funeral Home & Forest Park Lawndale

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