Mary Herring Debnam, 97, passed away May 12, 2005, at Lake Prince Woods in Suffolk. Born in Pender County, N.C. She was the daughter of the late Susan Irene Herring and John Franklin Herring and the widow of Joseph H. (Bill) Debnam. She attended Meredith College and Greensboro College. She retired from the Suffolk Department of Social Services in 1976.

Upon her marriage in 1939, she became an active member of Main Street United Methodist Church where she taught in the primary department, and later joined the Wesley Bible Class, Circle Three, and the United Methodist Women.

She was also a member of the Suffolk Woman’s Club and the Sans Souci Literary Club.

She is survived by two daughters and one son-in-law, Mary Ann D.

and

John D. Eure Jr. of Suffolk, and Rebecca Jo Debnam of Virginia Beach; two grandchildren and their spouses, Ann Dalton E. and R. Brent Brown of New Smyrna Beach, Fla., and David D. Eure and Monica H. of Suffolk; four great grandchildren, Dalton, Mary Jacquelyn, Elizabeth Brown, and Caroline Eure.

Mary was a devoted sister, wife, mother, and grandmother. Her family takes solace from the words found in John 11: 25-26.

A funeral service will be conducted at 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 14 at R.W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home and Crematory by the Rev. Robert J. Parks, Jr. with burial at Cedar Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the home of Mary Anne D. Eure. Memorial donations may be made to Main Street United Methodist Church, 202 N. Main St., Suffolk, Va. 23434 or to the charity of one’s choice.

Condolences may be registered at www.rwbakerfh.com.