Mary was born on November 26, 1940, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, to Harold and Mattye Will Blakeney. Mary was a sister to Martha, Tommy, Mamye, and John Blakeney. Mary became a Christian as a young girl at Main Street Baptist Church. She practiced and became an accomplished pianist and organist as she played for church and school choirs throughout her entire life. Mary graduated from William Carey College with a degree in Organ and taught many children to play the piano. Mary married Bill Bounds, a chemist at Ciba Geigy Chemical Plant. They lived in Saraland, Alabama and raised three children Mark (Melissa) Bounds, Carmen (Johnny) Owens, and David (Shannon) Bounds. She was a wonderful grandmother to Bonnie and Brittany Bounds, Jeff, Amber, Ryan (Hayley), and Jasmine Owens, and Josh, Jacob, and Sam Riley Bounds. She actively supported her children and grandchildren in school, band, church and athletic endeavors. Mary was a mother who was involved in each child’s activities. The family especially enjoyed boating, fishing and beach trips. Perhaps because of Bill’s biology background, they enjoyed seeing plants and animals in nature. Mary was treasured by her family as a homemaker, seamstress and cook. She hand smocked dresses for her granddaughters, and she gave a smocked gift at the birth of each niece and nephew. Mary made baby gifts for many new babies and for many preemie babies at Woman’s Hospital in Baton Rouge. One Christmas Mary made every granddaughter and great niece in the family an apron with their name monogramed on it to celebrate a Christmas tea party. Mary and Bill enjoyed traveling in the summer to walk in the National Parks. They took trips to the Smokies, Grand Tetons, Glacier National Park and to Alaska. Mary carried her special granola cookies as a "trail treat." Mary and Bill were married for 52 years and retired to Homestead Village in Fairhope. Bill passed away in 2013. During their stay at Homestead, Mary continued to play the piano for church each Sunday and Wednesday until weeks before the end of her life. She also organized two music appreciation groups which met biweekly to sing and enjoy music. She shared her special chocolate cake and lemon pie with friends at Homestead. She made lap cloths and Christmas ornaments to share with neighbors who lived at Homestead too. Today and for all of our lives we will treasure and remember the life of Mary Bounds, who was a faithful wife, beloved mother and grandmother, aunt, sister and friend. She will be remembered for her talents in making music to praise God, for living a wonderful life as a Christian example, for being a mother who exemplified integrity and who deeply loved her children and for being a friend. She will be remembered because she shared her musical talents, cooking and sewing skills with those nearby everywhere she lived. Her life blessed all who knew her. Visitation will be held at Radney Funeral Home, Saraland on Friday, November 30 from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M, followed by a Chapel service at 7:00 P.M. Graveside services will be held Saturday, December 1, 2018 at 11:00 A.M. from Davis (Mill Creek) Cemetery in Lumberton, Mississippi. The family suggests sending memorial contributions to Ida Bounds Music Scholarship c/o Marcia Taylor 430 Flint Creek Road Wiggins, MS 39577.

Contributor: Carolyn (47153996)