Mary Janell Brown Aycock

Mary Aycock, age 88, of Saucier, passed away on Friday August 2, 2024.

She was preceded in death by her parents, William Victor and Bertie Mae Brown; her husband of 61 years, Clois Aycock; her sisters, Irene Ferry (John Hardy ‘Red’), Esta McKnight (Charles), Annie Madge Drumm; her brothers, Thomas ‘Bud’ Brown (Vera) and William Sidney Brown.

Mary is survived by her children, Nathan Aycock, of Boonton, NJ, and Emily Aycock Lymon (Tony) of Hattiesburg, MS; her siblings Sara Bethany of Lisman, AL and Patty Doucet of Riderwood, AL; her grandchildren, Zachary Lee Aycock of Chicago, IL, Norah Song Aycock, of Washington, DC, and Colette Olivia Lymon of New Orleans, LA; her 14 nieces and nephews, scores of great nieces and great nephews and even more first and second cousins.

She was a native of Conehatta, Mississippi. Mom was born at home in 1936 on their family farm. She was the sixth sibling out of eight that Vic and Bertie Mae raised in Riderwood in Choctaw County, Alabama.

Mary graduated from Choctaw County High School in Butler, Alabama in 1954. She earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Mississippi Southern College (which then became the University of Southern Mississippi). She then went on to graduate school at Vandercook College of Music in Chicago, Illinois. For five summers in a row, she earned a Master of Music Education while teaching at her full-time band program at Decatur High School in Newton County, MS.

Mary was a pioneer in music education in the state of Mississippi. She was one of a small handful of the first women band directors in this state. She started several school band programs in Central MS and the Delta during the time of desegregation of our public schools. She mentored other women in her field and was well respected as a band director and beginning brass instructor. From 1957 to 1997, she led band programs and taught students to love music and to excel on their instrument. She taught in band programs in twelve different school districts across Mississippi for over 38 years. Some of the schools that were lucky enough to have her teach their students are: Lawrence County High School , Lawrence County School District, Stateline Academy, Greene County Schools, & Greene County High School, Decatur High School ,Newton County Schools, Hattiesburg High School, Forrest County Schools, & North Forrest High School, Collins High School, Covington County Schools, North Sunflower Academy, Sunflower County Schools, Bayou Academy, Bolivar County Schools, D’Iberville High School, Harrison County Schools, Harrison Central High School, and North Gulfport 7th & 8th Grade School.

Mary was a Founding Vice-President and charter member of the Tau Beta Sigma Honor Sorority for music education majors at the University of Southern Mississippi (1956). Mississippi Lions All-State Honor Band, Brass Instructor and staff member (summers, 1970’s), Charter member of the Women Band Directors National Association, which was founded and met at the Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Festival in Chicago, Illinois (1969), United States Collegiate Wind Band International European Tour, Winds Conductor (summers 1980-1982).

In retirement, Mary enjoyed crossword puzzles, sewing, quilting, and making beaded angel ornaments as crafts for the church bazaar. Across four decades Mary volunteered at her home church serving with the United Methodist Women’s Club, the Administrative Church Council, and the SPPRC/Staff-Pastor Parish Relations Committee with the Saucier United Methodist Church. She founded the Helping Hands Food Pantry in the early 2000’s and worked for almost twenty years to acquire federal grants and local donations for her community. At any church they attended, Mary also served as the Church Choir Director.

Mary dedicated her life to helping others, whether it was as a music educator or as a church volunteer running the Saucier United Methodist Church Helping Hands Food Pantry. After retiring from teaching, she saw a need in the rural communities of North Harrison County after Hurricane Katrina struck. She founded the Helping Hands Food Pantry as a ministry of the Saucier U.M.C. with a team of other church members who all gave of their time freely.

In lieu of flowers, we wish to honor Mary’s commitment to ending food insecurity in low-income households by requesting any donations be made to her food pantry.

Saucier United Methodist Church, c/o Helping Hands Food Pantry, 24135 Church Avenue, Saucier, MS 39574, 228-832-3737.

A visitation will be held from 1:00-2:00 PM, Saturday, August 17, 2024, at Saucier United Methodist Church, Saucier, with a funeral service beginning at 2:00 PM, interment will be on Sunday August 18, 2024 at 2:00 PM at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Meridian MS.

Please visit www.riemannfamily.com where memories and photos may be shared.