Mary was born February 17, 1936, in Carter community of northern Yazoo County, Mississippi. Her parents were the late Yancy Cole Edwards and Ola Druey Edwards.
Mary was a dedicated wife and mother, devoted to her family. She took pride in her family and her home and lovingly cared for both throughout her lifetime. She enjoyed cooking meals that drew her family together to the table, and delighted in making special treats for each. Mary was a hard worker and very independent, and she instilled these traits in her children as they grew. Her legacy of assiduity, perseverance, and allegiance to family and friends will live on in the hearts of those she knew and loved.
Mary liked to spend her free time outdoors, tending her flowers and veggie garden. She was also a true animal lover and lavished attention on her sweet pets.
In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, John Robert Tall; and sons, Ethan Allen Eldridge and Aaron Dean Eldridge.
Survivors include daughters, Debbie Ornelas (Kenny), and Brenda Johnston (Andy); sons, Mark Eldridge (Lynn), and James Wilson; sisters, Polly Enyeart, and Wanda Black; brothers, Gene Edwards, and Perry Edwards; grandchildren, William Eric Hamilton, Gayla Dawn Dodd, Chadwick Ornelas, Kenneth Ornelas, Eddie Johnston, Jennifer Bailey, Jessica Hite, Katie McReynolds, and Curtis Daley; great-grandchildren, Felicity Fortenberry, Ashten Johnston, Alanna Johnston, Kale Johnston, Haidon Johnston, Miya Johnston, Michael Johnston, Dakota Eldridge, Mia Jowers, and Olivia McReynolds; and great-great-granddaughter, Elise Fortenberry.
Her family will receive friends from 5:00pm until 7:00pm, Tuesday, June 2, 2020, at Baldwin-Lee Funeral Home in Pearl. Funeral services are 10:00am, Wednesday, June 3, 2020, in the funeral home chapel with interment in Crossroads Cemetery, Pelahatchie.
