Mary Lavender Huckaby, 84, of Columbus, MS, passed away Wednesday, August 9, 2023, at North Mississippi Medical Center, Tupelo, MS.

Visitation will be Monday, August 14, 2023, from 2:00 PM – 4:00 Pm at Lowndes Funeral Home, Columbus, MS.  Graveside Service will follow at 5:00 PM at Friendship Cemetery, Columbus, MS.

Mrs. Huckaby was born January 21, 1939, in Columbus, MS to the late Willie Mae Murphy Lavender and Gus Lavender. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Huckaby is preceded in death by her husband- Jessie Eugene Huckaby.

Mrs. Huckaby is survived by her daughter- Linda (Wes) Mims; sons- Bubba (Amy) Huckaby, Lee (Jessica) Huckaby, Brian (Suzy) Huckaby; grandchildren- Ragan Huckaby, Riley Huckaby, Andrew Huckaby, Houston Mims, Abby Huckaby, Anna Kathryn (Jonathon) West, and Caroline Weathers; great-grandchild- Kennedy West; sisters- Shirley (Lew) Cornelius and Margie Fromm; brothers- Paul (Lynn) Lavender, Mike (Marilyn) Lavender, and Jerry (Beth) Lavender.

She graduated from New Hope High School where she excelled in athletics and learned the value of hard work and teamwork.  She married her beloved Eugene and together they instilled those values into their children and grandchildren.  She worked for many years at First Federal Bank and was the friendly voice that all customers recognized.  All who knew her will remember her outgoing smile, kind nature, and good humor.  Known fondly as MeMe, she was happiest in a room full of family watching any type of sport.  She lived a life best described in Colossians 3:12-17,

"Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.  And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.  And let the peace of Christ tule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body.  And be thankful.  Let the work of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.  And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Honorary pallbearers will be Houston Mims, Andrew Huckaby, Roberto Rivera, Chad Moore, Stan Glover, staff of Huck's Place, staff of Encore Rehabilitation, and all of her many nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to Kolola Springs Baptist Church, 965 Cal Koloa Road, Caledonia, MS 39740.