Mary Frances Dodson

Mary Dodson died at her home in Long Beach, Mississippi on Friday, February 8th at age 90. She was an extraordinary woman of good character and strong will. Born to a Tennessee tobacco farmer, who died in a curing fire when she was six leaving his wife and six children to the charity of relatives. After graduating from high school, she moved to Memphis to work in an airplane factory during WWII. After the war she met and married J.C. Dodson, a handsome young soldier just back from the war. They had three children: -Gail Dodson Nicholson (Chet) of Pass Christian -Donald J. Dodson of Memphis -Janet Kay Dodson of Hopkinsville, Kentucky On questionaires she would be identified as a "Homemaker", which is an understatement. She was also: -a school crossing guard, who would chase down speeders in full uniformed splendor, and bring home a neglected child who passed her way for clean clothes and a hot meal. -a seamstress; Mary Kay cosmetician; phone book/Sears catalogue deliverer; freight bill auditor. and whatever else provided extra for her family. -a championship bowler, who became a junior bowling coach, took her young team to the state finals and won. -a volunteer undercover agent for weight and measure who, after being shorted by the same butcher several times, made the front page ,"Housewife nabs Butcher", when she brought an agent with a scale with her who waited in the car; weighed the roast she purchased; and led the culprit away in handcuffs. Low on money but not on energy, she and J.C. took their kids camping all over the country, and when she began to fret over their incoming adult teeth that didn’t look so hot, she badgered, then pled, then cried until the local dental school agreed to accept them for braces, ensuring their unrestrained smiles forevermore. J.C. died too young at age 66 of lung cancer and Mary never re-married. She moved to Gulfport where she started all over, learning to play Bridge with the best, and growing lush beautiful flowers to stop traffic. She enjoyed and helped raise her grandchildren Jason, Jasmine, and Jade Dodson. She loved and was very proud of her step-grands Kristen (Necaise) and Jesse Nicholson. Her great grandchildren, Jorden Dodson, Kylie, Kinsey, Wyatt Nicholson and Eve and Jude Necaise were her heart’s delight in her later years. Hurricane Katrina chased her up a five foot ladder to an eight foot high attic, and at age 83 she started all over again. Showplace yard; still driving; force of will to summons 27 relatives from seven states to celebrate her 88th birthday. As she approached ninety she decided she should go into assisted living. She lasted six weeks and then absconded to her final home at Green Acres Apartments in Long Beach- a place God made for her with its courtyard full of flowers and kind people who enjoyed her company and ate her chicken and dumplings. Her ashes will join J.C. in the National Cemetery in Memphis on March 8th at 1:00p.m. A memorial service will be held in Gulfport on Wednesday, March 6th, from 5-7p.m at The Chimneys. For those of you who loved her, please plant a flowering tree, a Camellia or a rose bush in her memory. She died quietly, without any known illness, and she will be missed. View and sign register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com