Mary Stuard Humphries

Mary Stuard Humphries, 85, of Boiling Springs, went to sleep at home and woke in the arms of Jesus on Thursday, November 23, 2023. A native of  Gaffney, she was born on July 8, 1938, a daughter of the late Tommie and Bessie McSwain Stuard and wife of the late Warren Neil Humphries. Mary loved her God, family, and her church. 

She was a 1956 graduate of Gaffney High School, graduated from Shelby Beauty School and Spartanburg Methodist College. She was employed by Spartanburg School District Seven for twenty-nine years working at Houston Elementary, Park Hills Elementary and Mary H. Wright Elementary Schools. Mary never officially retired. She taught two-year-olds for nine years at Advent Children’s Center. She spent five summers at Camp McCall in Sunset, SC as a cook. Mary loved to cook and entertain. She cooked and fed everyone as the opportunity presented itself. Everyone was welcome in her home. She traveled on many mission trips with her church to provide meals. Cooking was her gift and her ministry to others. 

She loved to travel and after the death of her beloved husband, she and three widow friends traveled all over the USA and other countries. She was a member of Cudd Memorial Baptist Church where she was a former choir member, former WMU director and a lifelong member of the Joy Sunday School Class. She loved gospel music and attended many festivals and concerts throughout her lifetime. 

She is survived by her daughters, Rene’ Hollifield and Dee Neil Humphries Edwards, both of Boiling Springs. She treasured her two grandson and granddaughter in love, Tyler and Hanna Mahaffey of Rock Hill, SC and David Neil Edwards of Breckenridge, Colorado. She was blessed to love on her two great grandchildren, Fuller Lee and Hollyn Taylor Mahaffey. She is also survived by a sister-in-law, Pat Stuard and several nieces and nephews. 

In addition to her parents and husband, she was predeceased by her siblings, James Stuard, John Stuard, Betty Quinn and Mack Stuard. 

Visitation will be from 10:30 am to 11:30 am, Wednesday, November 29, 2023, at Cudd Memorial Baptist Church, 1301 Boiling Springs Road, Spartanburg, SC 29303. Funeral services will follow at 12 noon in the church conducted by the Rev. Kristopher Showen, the Rev. Danny Garrett, the Rev. Ronnie Norris and Tyler Mahaffey.  Burial will follow in Frederick Memorial Gardens, 986 Chesnee Hwy., Gaffney, SC 29341. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Operation Christmas Child, c/o Samaritan’s Purse, PO Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607 or Cudd Memorial Baptist Church Missions, 1301 Boiling Springs Road, Spartanburg, SC 29303. 

The family is at the home of her daughter, Rene’, Boiling Springs, SC 29316. 

Floyd’s North Church Street Chapel