Mary passed away in the home of her youngest daughter and son-in-law in Montgomery, Texas on Monday, September 25, 2023. Mary was ninety-two years old when she went to be with her Lord and Savior.

Mary was married to the love of her life, Mr. Fred William Young, on July 14, 1951. The couple were happily married for fifty-seven years before Fred was called home. Mary's final resting place will be alongside Fred in Evergreen Cemetery in her hometown of Elba, Alabama.

Mary is survived in life by her loving family: Her eldest daughter Jennifer Hughes and her husband, Jim of Millbrook, Alabama, and Jennifer's two children: Christopher Brunson and his wife Samantha, of Prattville, Alabama, and Mary's granddaughter, Allison Mashburn and her husband Ashton of Montgomery, Alabama. Mary is also survived by her youngest daughter, Gina Talbott and her husband Steven, and their son Hayden Young Talbott of Montgomery, Texas. Mary is additionally survived by her only brother, Jack Padgett, and his wife Sylvia of Elba, Alabama and their son, Mary's nephew, Kyle Padgett, and his wife Anna, of Andalusia, Alabama.

Mary was a life-long learner and a lover of education. She retired after a career in education for thirty-nine years. Mary graduated from her hometown high school, Elba High School, and then earned two additional degrees in education. For everyone Mary met, she championed the need to strive for continuing one's education. Mary's greatest success in life was seeing her children, grandchildren, and her vast array of students all reach their respective educational goals.

Before Mary's passing, she was seen well into her upper eighties nurturing her beautiful yard and longingly caring for her beloved plants and flowers. To all her neighbors, church friends, and almost everyone who knew her, she was simply, "Miss Mary." Mary enjoyed the game of Bridge and was well loved by all of her, "Bridge buddies." She was blessed to continue to play multiple times weekly until about two months prior to her passing.

Beyond anything else that can be said about Mary was that she loved the Lord. Mary could be found bright and early every morning up until right before her death spending time with God and His word, and spending time in prayer. For those who had the good fortune of spending time with Mary as she was nearing her death, you could see the peace of Lord shine through Mary as she readied to meet her Heavenly Father.

Miss Mary was known to say when asked how she was doing, to respond by saying, "Well, I'm just doing the best I can!" To Miss Mary, we would like her to know, we will strive to live by those words and continue in her legacy, "To do the very best we all can!"

Funeral services will be held at Elba Church of Christ Sunday, October 1st, 2023, at 2:00 PM with Minister Timothy Gunnells officiating. Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery with Hayes Funeral Home of Elba, Alabama directing. Visitation will be held at Elba Church of Christ from 1:00 PM until 2:00 PM.

Serving as pallbearers are Jimmy Cook, Harry Young, George Bryan, Ronnie Young, David Baker, Jerry Kirkland, Mark Vaughan, and Donald Lawford.

In lieu of flowers, Mom requested donations be made in her honor to Camp Wiregrass. This summer camp was very dear to Mom's heart and our family while we all grew up in Alabama. Each summer, this camp teaches and fosters a growth and development of the love of Christ in children of all ages.
Donations to Camp Wiregrass can be forwarded by mail to:
Camp Wiregrass
P.O. Box 311072
Enterprise, Alabama 36331
Please use the memo line to denote Mary Young's name regarding your donation.

We would like to thank you all for you for your overwhelming and overflowing words of love, prayers, and well wishes to our family. Momma was loved by a great many people, and we feel blessed that she is now at home with her heavenly Father.

Hayes Funeral Home of Elba, Alabama is serving the Young family.