Mary Quitman Custer

CUSTER NATCHEZ- Funeral services for Mary Quitman Custer, 36, of New Orleans, who died Sunday, October 26, 2008, at her residence, will be 11 a.m., Friday, October 31, 2008, from Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Vidalia, La., with Rev. Jim Benbrook officiating. Burial will follow at Natchez City Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home. Visitation will be 10 a.m. until the time of service, Friday, at the church. Miss Custer was born April 4, 1972, in Memphis, Tenn., the daughter of Charles Joseph Custer and Mary Pat Coley Custer. She attended The Hutchinson School in Memphis, Tenn., and graduated from the Charles Darwin School in the United Kingdom. She was elected to "Who's Who" in American Schools and was a graduate of S.W. Community College in Memphis. Mary was widely traveled throughout Europe, residing in Italy, the Canary Islands, and the United Kingdom for a period of time. She was employed with Cosse & Cosse Law Firm of New Orleans. Miss Custer is preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Charles J. Custer, III and Laura Green Lott Custer; maternal grandfather Thomas "Pat" Quitman Coley. Survivors include her father and step mother, Charles Joseph Custer, IV and Judith R. Custer of New Orleans; mother, Mary Pat Coley Custer of Germantown, Tenn.; maternal grandmother, Macie Hamblin Coley of Tupelo; two sisters, Amanda Custer Albert of New Orleans, Cynthia Custer Gangwish of Olive Branch, Miss; two aunts, Ellen Custer Huey of Monroe, Elizabeth Vance Custer of Natchez; three cousins, Edna West Block of Huntsville, Ala., Walter Dawkins of Birmingham, Laura Dawkins of Nashville. Pallbearers will be Todd Gangwish, Richard Albert, Markley Huey, Walter Dawkins, Dick Wall and C. G. Melville. Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Walter Dawkins, Bernard Wood, Donnie Richie, Ben Hennington, Joey Lunetto, Jimmy Hamblin and Bill Peale. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, 806 Concordia Avenue, Vidalia, La. 71373 or the Louisiana SPCA, 1700 Mardi Gras Blvd., New Orleans, La. 70114. On line condolences may be sent to www.lairdfh.com.