Mary Frances White

White, Mary Frances (Woods) departed this life on Saturday, October 9, 2021 holding the hands of her daughter, Stephanie and Granddaughter, Paige. Mary was born on January 29, 1942 to Edward Calvin and Mary Elizabeth Woods in Knoxville, Tennessee. Mary was a graduate of Rule High School (Go Golden Bears!) and Tennessee School of Beauty. She had an amazing career in the hair industry that spanned more than four decades. Long before fashion colors and asymmetric haircuts were a thing ~ there was Mary. She always had a flair for the dramatic, especially when it came to fashion (Chanel being her favorite). Mary could look at an article of clothing on the rack and know it was going to make a statement. Basic was never her style! Mary had a sense of humor and could tell a joke at the drop of a dime for any occasion. When Mary wasn't doing hair, she served as the Cheerleading Commissioner for CBFO for years. That role allowed her to keep an eye on all three of her children at one time. Mary loved going to church at Lonsdale United Methodist Church for most of her life. She loved to sing and thankfully had a beautiful voice. She loved attending the church potluck dinners where she ALWAYS presented her famous and well received Chicken-n-Dumplings. Family Secret Recipe ~ She opened several cans of Sweet Sue Chicken & Dumplings and threw in a generous amount of pepper - Viola! During the last years of Mary's life, she attended Cokesbury United Methodist Church. Mary loved driving through the Great Smoky Mountains. However, Mary found her greatest source of peace at the Beach and with her Grandchildren. She loved each of her Grandchildren "the most!" Mary is preceded in death by her husband, Hoyal White, Jr.; parents E.C. and Mary Woods; brother, Oscar Woods; sisters, Glenda Shephard and Thelma Woods. She is survived by her children, Leisa White, Chris White, Stephanie (Charles) Hall. Grandchildren: Shawn (Paulina) Hatmaker; Hunter (Brooke) Hall; Nicole Hatmaker; Mary-Anne (Tyler) Smith, Paige Hall, Ben Hall and Rheagan Hall. Great-Grandchildren: Addy and Christopher Stanton; Tatum Hall; Titus Hatmaker and Baby Iris; sister, Jewell (Clyde) Sheppard; brothers: Parvin (Nancy) Woods and Arthur (Yvonne) Woods; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Mary leaves behind her best friend since childhood, Becky Jones of Chattanooga. Mary also leaves behind her best friend of several decades, Betty Brooks. Mary and Betty raised their children together on football fields, basketball courts or the swimming pool. Summers were always spent at Bob and Betty's. Both friendships became family! Both relationships were built on stories, celebrations, heartaches, births, deaths, jokes, family events, and always a glass of wine. Becky and Betty were sisters to Mary. Not all family is Blood! For those of you close enough to Mary to have been her friend/family - if she cared at all about you, you always knew it! Live life to the fullest and without regrets! And, for the love of all that is good in this world, don't wait until moments such as this to reach out and tell people that you loved them. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later time. No flowers or cards are needed. Just be kind to someone. Buy a stranger a meal. Hug someone (even if you're not the touchy feely type). Spend time with the people you love.