MARY HENSON RAWLS

Mary Henson Rawls of Andalusia passed away on Fri., July 1, 2011, at Andalusia Manor Long Term Care Facility.

Funeral services will be held at Bethany Baptist Church on Tues., July 5, at 3 p.m. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow in Rawls Baptist Church Cemetery.

She is survived by her husband of 53 years, Joe LaGrange Rawls; sons, Michael (Shari) Rawls of Davidson, N.C., and Joseph (Deepa) Rawls of Thomasville; grandsons, Gavin Rawls and Mark Rawls; granddaughter, Raegan Rawls; brothers, Charles (Alice) Henson of Toccoa, Ga., and Frank (Luverne) Henson of Moultrie, Ga.; sisters, Frances Penn of Atlanta and Sarah (Jack) Dill of Palm Dessert, Calif.; and many nieces and nephews.

She was born in Moultrie, Ga., on Feb. 14, 1934, to the late Cecil and Pauline Hart Henson. She graduated from Georgia Baptist Hospital School of Nursing in 1954. By her classmates, she was known as “always smiling – always gay.”

After marrying Joe and the birth of her son, she was a resident of Dothan. She was a longtime member of First Baptist Church in Dothan. Mary, a registered nurse in obstetrics, retired from a fluffing nursing career at Southeast Medical Center in Dothan. She spent the last 11 years in Andalusia and was a member of Bethany Baptist Church.

Not only was she devoted to her family, she also was a loving, caring and compassionate person who will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Those unable to attend the services may leave online condolences at formeanfuneralhome.com.