Mary Ann Cheney

Our beloved Mary Ann Cheney died peacefully at home with her family by her side on August 27, 2025. She was born on October 11, 1936, in Greenwood, Mississippi, to the late Stanley James Clark and Bob Stephens Clark. She spent her early childhood in the Panama Canal Zone, where her father worked as a civil engineer on the locks at Gatun. During World War II, the family returned to Alabama while her father served as an officer in the Army Corps of Engineers, eventually settling in Elba, Alabama, after the war.

Mary Ann graduated from Elba High School in 1954, where she was active in band and theater. She went on to attend Auburn University, where she became a proud member of the Chi Omega sorority. While at Auburn, she was selected from 43 applicants to join the Dolphin Club as a precision performance swim team member. She completed her degree in Physical Education at Troy University, where she was honored with selection to Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities.

In 1961, Mary Ann married Ben Cheney, on St. Simons Island, Georgia, and together they began a lifetime of adventure living in three New England states, Minnesota, and South Carolina. She enjoyed many passions and interests, including cooking, entertaining, gardening, swimming, and playing tennis. She had a love of architecture and painting, was an active member of the United Methodist Church, and always found joy in helping others. She was proud of her work as a volunteer Guardian ad litem helping children in difficult circumstances.

Those who knew Mary Ann will remember her as cheerful and optimistic, kind, generous, thoughtful, funny, and athletic. She was a natural leader with a strong faith, qualities that left a lasting impact on everyone she met. She was a wonderful storyteller although some stories were suspected of being a little tall.

Mary Ann was predeceased by her parents, Stanley and Bob Clark, and her son, Christopher.

She is survived by her loving husband of 64 years, Ben; her children, William (Donna), Charles, and Laura Cheney Heins; grandchildren, Morgan Brown, Brittany Piatelli, Henry Heins, James Cheney, Samuel Cheney, and Noah Cheney; a niece, nephews, and cousins.