Source: https://www.meaningfulfunerals.net/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=2655144&fh_id=11066&s_id=

Mary Jean Woodard Gregory
(January 20, 1927 - August 24, 2014)

Mary Jean Woodard Gregory (Mary) was born January 20, 1927 in Ringgold Louisiana to the late Frankie and Arthur Woodard and was eldest sibling of Margie Kunce, the late Elsie Downs, and Zach Woodard.

Mary married J.D. Gregory Jr. in May 1947, shortly after graduating from Northwestern State University. Both teachers, they lived and taught in Noble La., then in Negreet, La., and in 1964 moved to Pleasant Hill, La. when J.D. became principal. Both continued their education, receiving Masters +30. They were devoted and loving parents to their daughters Jean and Susan, providing a loving Christian home and a life rich in travel, encouragement, and adventure. Mary retired in 1980. J.D. passed to eternity in 1988.

Mary Gregory was born with a heart for people and was a treasured friend and light of Christ for all who knew her. She loved the people of Pleasant Hill (her home for 50 years) and the people of Sabine Parish. She loved being a Louisiana native. She loved the color purple! She loved to learn. She loved organizing, planning, record keeping leading, and keeping her calendar! She quietly served her church, her community, her family , her friends, and her God all the days of her earthly life. She was a lover of birds and nature and was an advocate for the preservation of the environment. She traveled all over the world with her friends and family, visiting every state in the U.S. and many foreign countries. She told her daughters a short time ago, “I have done everything I've wanted to do and seen all I've wanted to see in my life, and some things I've done two or three times”. She served many organizations in Sabine parish including Library board, Delta Kappa Gamma, Council on Aging, and Family & Community Educators (for 50 years) -- to name a few. Quilting was her passion and weekly enjoyed her friends at the Tuesday “Busy Hands” group at First Baptist church and on Friday's enjoyed the Toledo quilters group. She was surprised and honored to be inducted into the Sabine Parish Hall of Fame , in April 2013. Accepting the award with the words, “I give all credit to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and I'm thankful for all that he has let me be a part of .”

Mary enjoyed her daughters and their spouses, 16 grandchildren (including spouses), and 10 great-grandchildren. Always interested in their life and activities, she remembered every birthday with a card and made each a quilt. She loved and valued her nieces, nephews, her siblings and her sisters and brother-in-laws.

Mary never complained and never wanted to burden anyone. Even on her difficult days she would find something positive to say. She considered herself receiving three miracles. Brain surgery at age 70 for two tumors only slowed her down for a few weeks. Breast cancer at age 80 was a brief pause in her journey - driving herself to chemo and never getting sick. When diagnosed with metastasized cancer in October 2013 in her bones and liver she had no pain. She kept up her calendar and lived her life fully with her friends and family until only a few days before she went to her Lord. Mary passed peacefully at home with her daughters, Jean and Susan, friend Nell, brother Zach, niece Judy, and sister-in-law Mary Nell by her bedside.

Mary was a daughter, a sister, a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a friend, a life-long student and life-long teacher. A faithful servant of God! She will be missed! Her memory and legacy treasured for seasons to come.

The family will receive visitors at First Baptist Church Pleasant Hill on Tuesday August 26, 2014 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. and the church will remain open for visitation throughout the night. The celebration and remembrance of Mary's life will be at First Baptist Church Pleasant Hill at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday August 27, 2014. Pallbearers are Dustin Tatem , Bob Tatem, Ron Hathorne, Jimmy Downs, Jimmy Jenkins, and Blake Gregory.