Mary Atkinson Chandler, 88, passed away peacefully on January 4, 2025 at Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi surrounded by family.
Mary was a well-known resident of Lafayette County, thanks in no small part to her ownership of Mary’s Grocery with her late husband, Ed. She thoroughly enjoyed running the small convenience store at the 7/9 split, and it became a rest stop for many people looking for a freshly sliced ham sandwich, a fuel up, or maybe even a little local gossip. After retirement, Mary could often be found tending her flowers, watching Yellowstone, or simply sitting on the front porch watching the traffic of the day pass by.
Most of all, Mary found herself tending to her family, whom she loved more than anything else. She raised or helped raise 3 generations in her quaint home, making sure each set of children who passed through her doors knew that someone in the world cared for them. Her legacy will live on through these generations she impacted with her love and care.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Edwin Chandler, and one daughter, Amy Eubanks. She is survived by her three daughters, Patricia Clark, Shirley Bumgardner (Billy), and Angela McCabe (Jason), her one son, Tommy Chandler, and her numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
There will be no services, but gifts left in memory of Mary can be made to Anchor Baptist Church, 1009 MS-7, Water Valley, Mississippi 38965.
