Mary Nell Grayson, age 83, passed away peacefully in her room at Traditions of Smyrna; Smyrna, Tennessee, Tuesday, December 17th, 2024. At the time of her passing, she was comforted by her youngest daughter, Suzanne Carroll, and her husband Michael from Fort Worth, Texas. They never left her side as she took her last breath and went home for Christmas to be with Jesus. Mary Nell's biggest heartbreak in life was when her son, Bennett, passed away in a car accident on December 20th, 1983, at the young age of 18. Today she is rejoicing in heaven to be finally reunited with him, and she will be laid to rest next to him.

Mary Nell was born in Tylertown, Mississippi Thursday, August 7th, 1941, to the late Mary Elizabeth Terrell and Carl Alford Terrell. Along with her parents, she is also preceded in death by her sister, Cora Ann Magee; her brother, Carl Jackson Terrell; and her son, Allen Bennett Beard.

She loved science and earned a bachelor's in biology degree from the University of Women's College located in Columbus, Mississippi in 1962. She then met and married her first husband and father of her three children, Lewis Bennett Beard, Jr. Mary Nell moved her family to Brandon, Mississippi in 1977 and Brandon is where she called home.

Mary Nell worked as a cytogenetics lab technician at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and her, and her family were founding members of Crossgates Baptist Church in Brandon, Mississippi. She raised her three children by herself after she divorced Lewis in 1980 when her children were 17, 15, and 10. She worked part-time at a local nursing home every other weekend to make ends meet and to make sure her children were well cared for.

As a single mom, she taught her children mostly by example the value of working hard, honesty, loyalty, punctuality, responsibility, reliability, independence, integrity, sacrifice, generosity, and a love for God and His word as she would routinely read her bible and made sure church was a priority for her and her family. As a result of her influence, all her children were saved and baptized at a young age and also share a love for Jesus. Mary Nell lived out loud her Christian upbringing and convictions and never drank, never smoked cigarettes, and very rarely ever said a bad word. She routinely gave her money and time to Christian evangelists, Christian organizations, and those in need as she loved others with her whole heart and gave generously and unconditionally. Among her best attributes, she had a wonderful personality and dry sense of humor along with an iconic and contagious laugh which she inherited from her mother and then passed on to her daughters. Laughing with her was one of the sweetest memories that will be cherished in the hearts of those who loved her.

She had an incredible green thumb and loved taking care of her plants and small garden. She loved anything crafty such as making wreathes, flower arrangements, cross-stitching, making jewelry, crocheting, sewing, and drawing.

She is survived by her daughter, Suzanne Carroll (Michael); her daughter Shelley Henkle (Jim); four grandchildren and one great grandchild.

There will be a private viewing for immediate family at Hartman Hughes Funeral Home in Tylertown, Mississippi at Saturday, December 21st, 2024, followed by a small graveside service at 3:00 p.m. at Silver Creek Baptist Church, 8017 Silver Drive; McComb, MS 39648. Her son-in-law, Michael Carroll, will be delivering the eulogy.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to their local Alzheimer's Association in her name.