Mary Black

Mary Watley Black, 84, passed away peacefully on September 18, 2023. Born in Arcadia, Louisiana on April 29, 1939, to Louis Lavon Watley and Lucille Keene Watley, Mary spent most of her life raising her family in Newellton, Louisiana. Her faith, kindness, and boundless generosity framed everything she did. She was an incredible cook, always making more than enough for anyone who knocked on the door. She cared for others in her community by helping with their children, providing meals for families, and always doing what she could to ease burdens. She also loved to sew and created treasured items on her 1920s Singer machine. But, more than anything, Mary loved her family. That love was evident in the pride she so easily expressed for her 6 children, 11 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

A service celebrating her life will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, September 23, 2023, with visitation beginning at 12:30 p.m., at Mulhearn Funeral Home in West Monroe, Louisiana with Bro. James Gardner of McClendon Baptist Church officiating. Interment will follow at Roselawn Memorial Gardens, Calhoun, Louisiana.

Serving as Pallbearers will be Bobby Black, Todd Black, Tim Sikes, Corey Carter, Chad Black, Justin Hankins and Logan Hankins. Honorary Pallbearers are the Grandson-in-laws.

Mary is survived by her six children, Gary Black (Melanie), Connie Hankins, Marilyn Black, Steve Black (Scarlette), Susan Russell (Kyle), and William Black (Christina); eleven grandchildren, Amy, Allyson, Justin, Shannon, Brittany, Betsy, Chad, Kelly, Hayley, Anna and Payton; and 18 great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents, Louis and Lucille Watley; her sisters, Janie “Pearl” Mahaffey, Emma “PeeWee” Sykes and her brothers, Buddy Watley and Billly Watley; and her two great-grandsons, Easton Craig McCoy and Benjamin Parker McCoy.

Memorials may be made to The CHARGE Syndrome Foundation, 318 Half Day Road #305, Buffalo Grove, IL 60089.