Mary Magueritte Gandy

Mary Margueritte Gandy

December 19, 1929-June 7, 2026

      Mary Margueritte Lott Gandy, 96 passed peacefully from this life on Sunday June 7th, 2026, at Alden Pointe in Hattiesburg, Mississippi in the presence of her loving daughters. Margueritte was born during the Depression in 1929 and was one of 8 children born to her parents Walker and Ophelia Lott. The family moved about the South as her father was called to various congregations as a Baptist minister.

      In 1947 Magueritte met and married the love of her life, John J. Gandy and for 65 years was totally devoted and madly in love with John until his passing in 2012. Margueritte was a constant companion and helpmate to John throughout all his endeavors. She was an excellent student and was promoted twice to higher grades while in junior and high school, graduating at the age of 15 1/2. She paused her college education to raise her girls but in 1969 she received her BS in education from the University of Southern Mississippi and taught elementary school for several years. She loved to garden and raise flowers and could sew practically anything you can think of. She was a loving mother and grandmother. Margueritte was a member of Union South Baptist Church.

      Margueritte is survived by her daughters, Jacqueline (Jackie) King and her husband Charles King of Seminary, Juanice Glaze and her husband Dr. Lamar Glaze of Hattiesburg, and Vanessa Abercrombie and her husband Archie of Seminary. She has 6 grandchildren, Brad Abercrombie of Seminary, Russell Abercrobie of Knoxville, TN, Kelly Sawyer of Hattiesburg, and Lauren, Matthew and Jonathan Glaze of Hattiesburg. She was blessed with 6 great grandchildren, Reagan and Riley Abercrombie of Ellisville, McKenna, Abram and Aurora Abercrombie of Knoxville, TN and Miles Abercrombie of Triadelphia, WV.

     She was preceded in death by her husband John Gandy, Parents, Walker and Ophelia Lott: Brothers, Walker Jr, Billy, Fred and Russell Lott. Sisters: Edith Murray and Carmen Hall. She is survived by her baby brother Tommy Lott of Conroe, Texas.

     Services will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday, June 11, 2026, at Union South Baptist Church with Dr. Barry Armstrong officiating. Visitation will be from 10:00 am until 11:00 am. An internment will follow at 12:00 pm at Union South Baptist Church Cemetery in Seminary. Billy M. King-Colonial Chapel Funeral Home of Collins is in charge of the services.

     Pallbearers will be Brad Abercrombie, Russell Abercrombie, Ike Sanford, Rufus Trigg, Kelly Sawyer, Archie Abercrombie and Dr. Lamar Glaze. Honorary Pallbearers are Murphy Wilson, Phillip Anderson, Bill Brunson and Brantley Perkins.

     In lieu of flowers the family asks that memorials be made to Mississippi Baptist Children's Village where John was adopted from as a young child or to the Southeast MS Association for Citizens with Disabilities (ARC) Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

     The family would like to thank the staff at Alden Pointe Assisted Living for the years of superior care and love they gave mother.

      2 Timothy 4:6-8 "The time has come for me to leave this life here. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now a prize is waiting for me--the crown that will show I am right with God, The Lord, the judge who judges rightly, will give it to me on that Day."