Mary Mayo

On July 27, 2019 Mary Louise (Mary Lou) Cameron Mayo, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother died at the age of 95 years, 10 months. She was born on September 2, 1923, the youngest child of Dr. Turner and Louise Cameron of Faunsdale, Alabama. She received her undergraduate degree at Montevallo before venturing north to Cornell University to work on a master’s degree in nutrition. The lure of home and an aversion to northern winters brought her home just prior to completing her degree. Back in Alabama, she worked for the Auburn Extension Service in Lowndes County, where she met her husband and partner of more than 60 years, Jack Mayo. Together they settled in Pleasant Hill, Alabama where Jack farmed, and she was a homemaker, mother and passionate gardener. Her garden vegetables helped to feed the family while her flowers, particularly daylilies, provided beauty and color to the home. Together, they raised four children, John (deceased), Louise Wood, Turner, and Libba Nicholson. In addition to her family and garden, Mary Lou loved reading and travelling whenever she could. She was independent, loyal, strong willed and always willing to help. Mary Lou was preceded in death by her husband Jack, parents, brothers Turner C. Cameron, Jr. and Dr. John M Cameron and sister Bessie Minge Wendt, and son John B. Mayo, III. She is survived by her sister-in-law Dorothy Drake Cameron, Nettie Mayo Staggers (Rucker), children Louise Wood (George), Turner Mayo (Anne), Elizabeth Nicholson (Bob), grandchildren Kathryn Winter (Doug), Karolyn Jones (Lyndon), Turner Mayo Jr., Clay Allen (Margaret), Grace Allen, John Mayo, Sam Mayo, Joseph Middleton (Heather), Minge Wright, Sarah Wilkinson, Robert Nicholson, David Nicholson (Liz) and great grandchildren Mallory, Kayla & Matthew Wright, Annabelle & Jack Wilkinson, Henry Jones, Will and Grace Ann Middleton, Hailee Winter, Taya, Quill and Renna Nicholson and numerous nieces and nephews. Her family wishes to thank the wonderful women who cared for her as her physical condition declined, especially Annie Dunklin, Natalie Rush, Jeanie Thomas and Barbara Thomas as well as SouthernCare New Beacon Hospice. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 31, 2019 at 10:00 AM at the First Baptist Church of Pleasant Hill, Alabama, (3083 County Road 12, Sardis, AL 36775) followed by a funeral service there at 11:00. Officiating will be Dr. David Thomas ,Dr. George Wood, Jr. and Rev. Steve Burton, directed by Lawrence Brown -Service Funeral Home. In lieu flowers please make donations to The Pleasant Hill Cemetery Association.