Mary Merle Mayfield Harris

Harris, Mary Merle Mayfield, of Bessemer, AL, passed away peacefully on Thursday afternoon, September 21, 2017. Mary Merle, or known to many as “MaryMom,” was born in Raleigh, MS and moved to Shannon, AL during her teen years. Upon arrival, she instantly met her future husband, E.W. Harris, and attended Jones Valley High School. Many will remember Mary Merle from her days as a teller at the First National Bank of Bessemer, now known as AmSouth, where she greeted everyone with a smile. She came out of retirement in 1992 to serve as the hostess for family visitation at Bessemer Brown Service Funeral Home — she was most proud when Bessemer Brown Service placed the framed newspaper article featuring her love of volunteering in the funeral home’s parlor. Each Thursday, you could find Mary Merle at the UAB Medical West Hospital information desk where she volunteered, made many friends, and was chosen to be the face for advertising campaigns and radio spots for the hospital. She was a devout member of several bridge clubs, including the Wednesday Bridge Club, and enjoyed filling in for others, too. Mary Merle was also involved in many civic clubs, such as the No Name Club and the Ludis Artis Club, where she served as President multiple times. Mary Merle was a faithful former member of the First United Methodist Church of Bessemer and acted as president of the George Bumgardner Sunday School Class. Most recently, she was a member of the Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church and contributed to their Sunday school class in McCalla. She was also an active member of the Bessemer YMCA since opening, and was dedicated to her 6 o’clock am exercise regime with her friend Margaret Snider Alexander. Our MaryMom enjoyed pouring love and affection on everyone, especially the 64-plus years she spent doting on E.W., her beloved husband. She was known for her sparkling blue eyes, her head-to-toe matching outfits, her beautiful flowers in her yard, her fresh coconut cakes, her talent for needlepointing and making heirloom children’s clothing, and her friendliness and affection towards anyone she met. She was preceded in death by her husband Ernest William (E.W.) Harris, her parents Alice and Stephen William Mayfield, three brothers and five sisters. She is survived by her daughter Peggy Harris Hollis and husband Wayne Hollis of Houston, TX; grandson John Hollis of Houston, TX; granddaughter Brooke Hollis Hortenstine of Dallas, TX; great-granddaughter Katie Hollis of Houston, TX; and great-grandsons Rollins Hortenstine and Hayes Hortenstine of Dallas, TX; nieces and nephews Carolyn Barr, Annette Betts, Sandra Cook, Doug Harris, Clydette Hughes, Ronnie Mayfield, Rudy Mayfield, Steve Mayfield, Jeanette Nichols, Becky Riddlehoover, Elaine Shealy, Nancy Shows, Judy Skelton, Kitty Snow, Bobby Thornton, Donna Walker, and Charlotte Williams; numerous grand nieces and grand nephews; attentive neighbors Tracy and Sam Montgomery, Wayne Mulder, and Denise and Richard Thompson; a host of helpful friends including Sandra Kirkland, Joanne Lewis, Sheila Morgan, Jane Mulkin, Renea Ross, and Mary Kay Woodham; caretakers Beverly Cain, Regina Davis, Doris Gutherie, Robin Reades and Doris Stoves; and many other family members such as, Jan Harris and Angel Hughes; and friends our family appreciates immensely. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, October 3, from 5:00pm until 8:00pm at Bessemer Brown Service Funeral Home in Bessemer, AL. Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, October 4 at 11:00am at Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church in McCalla, AL, with burial at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Bessemer.

Mary Merle Mayfield Harris

July 30, 1924 - September 21, 2017