Mary Stanley McGriff

Mary Stanley McGriff, age 98, beloved mother, grandmother, aunt and great?grandmother, departed this life on March 26, 2019.  M.S. had a zest for life, a quick wit and a kind nature and was adored by her family and friends.  A mother of two who was born in Albertville, Alabama on July 18, 1920, Granny understood the value of a dollar and the things that truly matter in life, especially family and friends.

She was a retired school teacher who attended Jacksonville State College, the University of Alabama and Auburn University.  She made her home in Dutton, Alabama before moving to Cumming several years ago to be closer to her family.  She was predeceased by, among many other family members and friends, her parents, Sara Eloise Bridges – who lived to 98 herself – and Dr. Robert Russell Bridges, her brother, Bubs, her husband, Jay, her daughter, Abigail, her Aunt Gail and Uncle Dee, her friends, Kelsey, Ila, Preacher, Etoyle and Juanita, as well as countless canine companions over the years, including Katy, Heidi, Mac and Buddy.  She is survived by her son, John, his wife, Marolyn, her nephew, Dr. Russell Bridges, his husband, Dudley Cannada, her grandchildren, Lynn, Iris and John, her great?grandchildren, Matt, Rob, Avery, Ben, Laney, Drew, Megan, Madelynn, Noah and J.P., her grandchildren/great grandchildren?in?law, Larry, Marty, Liz and Jack, and her friends, Raymond, Nelda, Martha, Carolyn, Ilene, Nancy, Pat, Bev, Tess, Yancey and Edna, among many others.

She loved her family, her friends, the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show and the Democratic Party, voting a straight ticket her entire life.  She was fond of the Fourth of July Parade (especially the free candy thrown into the crowd), Wal-Mart, Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune, Captain D's, canned vegetables, silver queen corn and a wide variety of sweets and desserts.  She also enjoyed regular shopping sprees at Kohl’s and Belk—often returning the items she purchased the very next morning.  Nothing pleased her more than family group photos and distributing dog treats indiscriminately everywhere she went.

Mary Stanley was fiercely independent and owned a home and a car into her late 90s.  Although she never flew in a commercial airliner, she started driving her father to house calls around Scottsboro, Alabama at 10 years old and safely transported her entire family to and from Florida when she was 14.  She attended the 1933 World's Fair in Chicago – which was one of the farthest distances she ever traveled from Sand Mountain – and she enjoyed the mountains in the fall and taking trips to Chattanooga with her family and friends, especially in her younger years.

There were no holidays Granny enjoyed more than Thanksgiving and Christmas, where family, friends, good food and good cheer were always plentiful.  She was a woman of strong faith and a devoted member of her church who always strove to live a life of consequence and quality.  She will be sorely missed by all who had the pleasure of making her acquaintance and her loved ones look forward to being reunited with her in the hereafter.

Graveside services will be held Thursday, March 28, at 2:00 p.m. (CST) at the Dutton United Methodist Church Cemetery in Dutton, AL.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home Wednesday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Ingram Funeral Home & Crematory, 210 Ingram Ave, Cumming, GA 30040 is in charge of arrangements.

Condolences may be made at www.ingramfuneralhome.com.