Mary Westerfield Culpepper

Mary Westerfield Culpepper, 94, died Saturday, October 3, 2020 at home in Carthage, Mississippi. She was born March 29, 1926, in Quitman, Mississippi, the youngest child of Jack Cameron Grayson and Missouri Belle Grayson. She was the youngest of 10 children; she had 6 brothers and 3 sisters and was the last surviving member of her siblings. She attended business college in Quitman and worked for the public school superintendent there, and later worked in a family mercantile business in State Line, Mississippi.

Mary Culpepper’s deep Christian faith was a constant source of her joy in life and of her love for family and friends. She always had a song in her heart and frequently on her lips that often expressed her faith. On many occasions - with spontaneously-inspired lyrics - her singing reflected her feelings or current situation. She was an active member of the Baptist churches where she lived, and was quick to give verbal witness for her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She was a Sunday School teacher, choir member, and an ardent supporter and participant in children’s and missions’ activities.

She was predeceased by 2 months by her husband of 56 years, Thomas R. Culpepper. He died August 3, 2020 after a brief hospitalization. She is survived by their children, Lt. Col. (ret) Mike Culpepper (Ulrike), Mary Leigh Ochoa (Rudy), Dr. Ed Culpepper (Sherron), Jeanie Westerfield, and Susan Triplett (Raymond), 8 grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren. She had been predeceased in 1963 by her first husband James Lamar “Jack” Westerfield.

Funeral services will be at 2:00 PM Thursday, October 8, 2020 at First Baptist Church, State Line, Mississippi. Visitation will precede the Memorial Service Thursday, October 8, 2020, beginning at noon, at the church. Interment will follow the service at State Line Cemetery. Freeman Funeral Home of Waynesboro, Mississippi will be in charge of arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, First Baptist Church, Carthage, Mississippi and/or St. Jude Children’s Hospital.