Mary Frances DAYE

Mary Frances Daye

Mary Frances Daye, affectionately known as "Ma," was born in Lynchburg on Oct. 7, 1927. She departed this life Tuesday, April 22, 2008, in New York.

She left Lynchburg at an early age and set out for New York City. There she graduated from Girls High School. While in New York, she met and married a soldier, Lundy Daye. From that union they had five children, Saundra Guyton of Temple Hills, Md., Barbara McCants (deceased), Dawne Daye of Fort Washington, Md., Lundy Vincent "Vinny" Daye of Lynchburg and Patricia Daye of Long Island, N.Y.

Mary retired from Coney Island Hospital where she worked in administration for 23 years. She also became a deaconess at the First Baptist Church of Coney Island and an Eastern Star.

Later, Mary and her husband Lundy retired and moved back to Lynchburg, where she joined the Mt. Peeler Baptist Church and was also a deaconess.

Recently she endured an injury and broke her hip. Being the soldier that she was, she quickly mended and was proud of how fast she was able to get back on her feet. She was a strong woman, a soldier who withstood the burial of her husband, brothers, sisters, daughter, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

In addition to her four surviving children, she leaves behind five grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren; siblings, Joan Wheaton of Lynchburg, Phyllis Grant of Lubbock, Texas, and James Wade of Baltimore, Md.; and a host of other family members and friends.

A funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 26, 2008, at Mt. Peeler Baptist Church, with Pastor Calvin Coles officiating. Interment will be in the Archer Creek Cemetery. The family is receiving friends one hour prior to the service and other times at the residence, 6123 Pleasant Valley Road, Lynchburg. The cortege will assemble at the residence. Condolences may be emailed to comfuneral@aol.com. Community Funeral Home is directing.