Mary Tucker Keating

Mary Edna (Tucker) Keating passed away September 3, 2025, after a brief illness. She was born in Dooley County, Georgia on April 6, 1939, to the late Julian and Mary (Ward) Tucker. Her family moved to Columbus, GA then to Macon, GA where Mary attended Miller High School. While Mary was a dedicated Georgian, she lived in many areas across the state throughout her life. She began to pursue her love of education in her early 30's by earning a bachelor's degree in education at Tift College for Women, a master's degree in education at Georgia State College and later also earned her Doctor of Educational Leadership. She was a passionate educator, administrator and leader in each of the school systems she served. Mary is affectionately known as Dr. Keating to many of her students, especially at Woodbine Elementary School in Camden County, GA, where they still honor some of the traditions she started many years ago as Principal. She proudly served as Assistant Superintendent for Camden County Schools and attended numerous educational conferences throughout the US providing training opportunities for other educators. She often shared stories about students she had the opportunity to teach throughout her life and loved when she was able to reconnect with some of them after retirement.

Mary moved to Warner Robins, GA to spend her retirement years and continued pursuing her love of travel around the world. She was a voracious reader and a lifelong learner. Every evening at 7:30 pm, she listened to Jeopardy and played Jeopardy online as a worthy opponent each day. Her final eight years of life began as a 78-year-old blind ocular stroke victim. She met this challenge with the determination and resolve she had used in life; she embraced/accepted the situation and decided she could find joy in each day. She lived in Antebellum Grove with their amazing staff and residents. She quickly became a friend to everyone she met, shared smiles with each person, and genuinely loved those around her. Mary's family is especially grateful to Debbie Harrelson and Renee Dickman for their friendship and dedication over the past several years.

Mary was faithful to her attendance and was involved with many activities at Sacred Heart Church including parish retreats as a speaker and a participant.

In addition to her parents, Mary was preceded in death by her husband Charles Keating, and siblings Ruth Reynolds and Michael Tucker.

Left to cherish her memory are her daughters Georganne Gentry Waters (Jeff) of Warner Robins, Julie Gentry Thames (Joel) of Dalton, Joy Gentry Woodfin (Scott) of Sherrills Ford, NC; stepson James Keating (Amy) of Milton; eight grandchildren: Josh Waters (Brittany), Jarred Waters, Dustin White, Scottie Woodfin (Emily), Alex Thames (Katie), Ainsley Keating, Will Keating and Sandy Neeb. Eight great-grandchildren: John Herschel Waters, Will Waters, Mary Evers Waters, Mason Thames, Jaxson Thames, Canelopi Laubert, Annabelle Neeb, and Sam Neeb. She also celebrated knowing a great-grandchild Woodfin is on the way.

A celebration of Mary's life will be held on September 30th at 1:00pm at Sacred Heart Church 300 S Davis Dr Warner Robins, GA, with visitation beginning at Noon. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to The Georgia Academy for the Blind, Macon, GA.