Mary Una Rich

Mrs. Mary Una (Murphy) Rich, age 92, of Florence, AL died March 28, 2008 at her residence surrounded by her loving family. She was a native of Lauderdale County, Alabama, but had lived in Tuscaloosa for 30 years before returning to Florence in 2002. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and sister and a faithful Christian and a member of Unity Baptist Church in Tuscaloosa.



The funeral will be at 2 pm, Sunday, March 30, at Piney Grove Baptist Church, Cypress Inn, TN, with Brother Kenny Baskins officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery with Shackelford Funeral Directors of Wayne County directing. Her grandsons will serve as pallbearers. Her body will be placed in the church one hour before the services.



Mrs. Rich was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, Eldred (E. T.) Rich; parents, John W. and Icie Horton Murphy; daughters, Barbara McGill and Betty Lawson; sisters, Ruby Price, Odella Smith, Carrie Robbins, Mildred Campa, Virgie Fowler, and Eunice Bevis; brothers, Charlie and George Henry Murphy; and her beloved and faithful dog, Bandit.



She is survived by her sons, Phillip (Marty) Rich and Jerry Rich, all of Florence; granddaughters, Mary Jean Koopman, Sherri McKinney, Phyllis Ann Driskell; grandsons, Charles (Butch) McKinney, Mark Staggs, Jim Staggs, and Chris Staggs; fifteen great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; sisters, Roxie (Chuck) Villers, Lola (Howard) Hart, and Nevada (Leonard) Newton, all of Waterloo, and Dorothy (John) Malone, Muscle Shoals; brother, Woodrow (JoAnn) Murphy, MS; a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.



Mary loved to cook and garden and she excelled at both. Her cakes, biscuits, and fried pies were “out of this world”. She loved to be outdoors in her flower and vegetable gardens. Her flowers were a site to behold. She loved nature and all animals, especially her rescued dog, Bandit, and her chickens.



Phillip and Jerry would like to thank Sherry McKinney for the love and tenderness shown to Mom during these last two months and thank Shirley and Junior Behel, Mom’s brother and sisters, and Wiregrass Hospice for all they have done.