Mary M. Pace, 86, of Pearl and later Starkville passed away Friday, January 4, 2019 at Merit Health Central in Jackson.

Visitation will be held from 10am - 12pm Wednesday, January 9, 2019 at Wright & Ferguson Funeral Home in Flowood. Funeral services will be held at 12pm in the funeral home chapel. A graveside service will be held at 3pm at Rocky Hill Baptist Church Cemetery in Raleigh.

Mrs. Pace was born April 12, 1932 to the late, James Earl and Erma Elizabeth Smith in Kilmichael, MS. She and her late husband, William D. Pace, raised their children in Pearl. She was a member of Grandview Baptist Church where she enjoyed singing in the choir. After her husband passed away she lived in the Magee area for a short time and attended the Primitive Baptist Church there with her sister. She then moved to Starkville to be closer to her children. Mary loved music, especially gospel music, a good cup of coffee, and vanilla ice-cream. She had a generous heart and loved making people laugh. Her family was her most valued treasure; as evidenced by her quote, "I am very gracious and thankful to God for all my children and great-grandchildren. God's speed ahead on your journey through life."
She is preceded in death by her parents; husband; siblings, James and Charles Smith, Alma Jones and Alice Callaway; and stepchildren, Harold Pace and Candace Rhodes.
Mrs. Pace is survived by her daughters, Beth Webb (Joe), Jody Pace Aloisi (Fernando) and Jennifer Pace Clark (Dudley); stepchildren, Arlene Booth (Robert), Cindy Logering, and Tim Pace; brother, John H. Smith; sister, Margaret Berry (Kelly); grandchildren, Murphy Buckner (Morgan), Sterling Buckner (Keela), Mary Elizabeth Buckner, Judson Buckner, Treva E. Bolleurs, Joshua Erickson, Michael Webb and Jamee Webb; six great-grandchildren; three great-great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.