Mary Lynn Gentry

mary gentry
Mary Lynn Gentry of Stone Mountain, Georgia, passed away as a result of complications from a stroke suffered in 2004, on August 11, 2017, exactly one month before her eighty-first birthday. Mary Lynn was a courageous woman who had many good years after she suffered her stroke. Although her body was failing her, she had a sharp mind, was very insightful, and retained her special dry and witty sense of humor to the very end. She loved music and animals, dogs especially, and her family and friends. She was kind, loving, generous, and always had a genuine interest in everyone. While so many of us today identify ourselves by our careers and what we do, Mary Lynn was of a generation where few women had careers. Her Identity and inner strength, which everyone admired, came from her strong sense of who she was, and whose she was. She belonged to the Lord, and she is still an example to us all. Mary Lynn, born on September 11, 1936 was the second child and only daughter of Dr. Thomas A. White and Mary Mercer (Marsha) Dunn White of Clemson, South Carolina. Dr. White was a Professor of Agriculture at Clemson University. Her older brother was the late Dr. Steven White of Greenville, NC, and her surviving younger brother is Dr. Thomas A. White, Jr., of Columbia, SC. Her parents were from eastern North Carolina. Of great interest, her maternal grandfather, William Lamon Dunn, who she called Papa, was a prominent North Carolina businessman and founder of Pinetops, NC, with many endeavors including bright leaf tobacco growing and one of the first Ford dealerships. Mary Lynn met her husband, Dr. David Raymond Gentry, Sr., at Clemson University during a music rehearsal involving the Clemson University Concert Band, in which David played the trombone, and the Clemson-Calhoun High School Choir of which Mary Lynn was a member. David fell in love with her the first time he saw her and asked if he could walk her home. They were married the day that David graduated from Clemson in 1955. They were married for 56 years until David’s death in 2011. Mary Lynn is survived by her brother, Thomas A. White, Jr. and his wife, Susan White, of Columbia, SC; her son, David Raymond Gentry, Jr. and wife, Angela Dowrey Gentry; her daughter, Mary Diane Gentry Windsor and husband, Wes Windsor, and her grandson, Daniel David Gentry, all residing in the Atlanta area. Her Memorial Service will be held Saturday September 9, 2017 at 12:00 noon at Mountain Park United Methodist Church 1405 Rockbridge Rd SW Stone Mountain, GA 30087 In lieu of flowers, donations to the National Stroke Association (www.stroke.org) would be appreciated

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  1. Mom, I love you so much and my life without you here will never be the same. I know in my heart that I will miss you every day for the rest of my days here on earth. I can only hope & pray that we will one day see each other again. I am so grateful to God for blessing me with you, and am so grateful for the time that we had together. I know you’re with our Lord now, and with Dad, and that you’re free, so I will try to find some comfort in that. I love you Mom. Rest peacefully. Love always, your “Little Girl.”

  2. Prayers for peace for you, Diane and Dave, and all of your family! I love Mama Mary Lou, and feel blessed to have had the chance to spend some time with her. Thank you for sharing your mother with me. I love y’all! <3

  3. Prayers for you and your family David! Your Mom’s article was expertly written with the one ingredient you can’t buy…..Love!

  4. Diane & Dave,
    Words do not adequately express the sorrow I feel for your loss. My prayer is that God will assuage your grief and sustain you with the memories of your mom’s life. May God bless you and keep you through this difficult period.

  5. We speak COMFORT, PEACE, LIGHT and LOVE to you Diane, your brother David and every person touched by your mom’s BEAUTIFUL spirit.

  6. Diane and David,
    I remember much about your family, in the early days, when we lived next door to each other. I remember funny things about your Mom………I remember our dobermans knocking her down the hill in the side yard….time after time……..it wasn’t funny, but the memory is now. I remember getting Diane in trouble with her when I turned the water faucet on to wash my hands and the dishes in the sink were clean. I also remember getting caught by her when Diane and I were sneaking out the window in the middle of the night to TP someone’s yard. And when she was teaching you to drive…….she’d get out of the car at the top of the driveway, and let you drive into the carport…………about 12 feet. Good good memories of knowing you all – back in the 70’s. I don’t know what words to use to soothe you at this time. I can only say that being in the Lord’s presence has GOT to be the best thing EVER………and one day we will all stand before Him………..reunited with our loved ones, in peace and happiness and freedom from the burdens of this life here. “Make Me your Refuge by pouring out your heart to Me, trusting in Me at all times.”
    In remembrance, Susan Dreher Fox

  7. Dear Diane and family,

    Even though I never met your mom, thru the way I met and got to know you , I am certain your mom was a loving , warm and caring person. She raised you into the person you are , and for that I am very thankful to your mom .
    She will look over you and her family from the next place .
    So even her body is gone now , her spirit will be around for ever !
    Love , Marcus

  8. Hey sweet pea.. I am soo sorry to hear this very sad news. Your mom and dad are looking down on you from heaven. Sending hugs long distance.

  9. Diane, I’m holding you and your family in my thoughts and prayers. Your mom is in your heart forever. May you feel comfort and joy in a lifetime of memories. Love you to the moon and back!

  10. So sorry for your loss. I am glad I had the wonderful time of knowing both your Mom and Dad. We had some great conversations. Now to know they are together once again. God Bless you all may your Mom Rest in Peace

  11. I was very saddened to hear of Mary Lynn’s passing. I remember her well from our high school days, as we were classmates. I send my sincere condolences to her family. May God bless you and grant you peace.
    Ralph Heller, CCHS 1954

  12. We are very saddened to hear of Mary Lynn’s passing. We knew her well, and performed with David in the Jungaleers Alumni Band. Our prayers and best wishes to David.

  13. I have such fond memories of my cousins from Clemson. Mary Lynn wss always so gracious and tolerant of us rowdy boys from Pinetops. We were so fortunate to have parents that grew up in a caring and supportive atmosphere ,and in turn passed that on to us as we grew to maturity. Karen and I will be thinking of you in the weeks ahead. Love, Bill and Karen Dunn 6113 Redmond Ct. Raleigh NC 27612-6729

  14. Dave I am thinking of you during this time and thinking of your family. I liked what you wrote about her.

  15. Mary Lynn was really my sister’s friend, but I enjoyed being around her (and the rest of the White family,) as well. I remember her as a kind, gentle soul. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone who knew her.

  16. Mary Lynn was my best friend from third grade when our family returned from Texas during WWII. We went our separate ways
    when I graduated early from Clemson High School but loved each other forever. Her name and David’s are on my signature quilt.
    I have so many wonderful memories since we were always spending the night and double dating with each other. And those memories include Stephen and Tommy and their parents. Rest in peace, Mary Lynn.

  17. Mary Lynn was such a darling little cousin which I always looked forward to seeing every summer when we were young. Our mothers were very close sisters so we had time together back then. I remember catching fire flies in their front yard as well as many other late afternoon games outside. All of us cousins were close.
    I know Mary Lynn’s life was wonderful with her family and my family sends sympathy and love to everyone at this time of loss.

  18. My thoughts and prayers are with you all. I did not have the privilege of knowing Mrs. Gentry, but I do know David and Angela, and she had to have been a wonderful, loving mom to have had such caring, gracious children in her family.

  19. I have such wonderful memories of summer vacations with the White family at Carolina Beach and White Lake in the 40s. It was like a perpetual playtime with our cousins, Steven, Mary Lynn and Tommy, and delicious food prepared all week by my mom, Maude Rose and Aunt Marsh competing for world’s best cook. And when the younger generation of Dunn cousins could be together in Pinetops, to visit Mama and Aunt Maggie, it was always so much fun. I am so sorry to hear of Mary Lynn’s passing.

  20. Mary Lynn’s family, I was so sad to hear of this classmate’s death. I remember her as pure sweetness, kindness, characteristics that did not mar her intellect. Mary Lynn always achieved a fine academic record, and was a strong participant in our classes. I know that she will be a sad loss for family, friends, her church, and neighbors.. I have such good memories of her sense of humor and gentle ways. my condolences to all of you, millie lane-berg

  21. Dave, Diane and your families, Joyce and I want to assure you that our thoughts and Prayers are with you and your family during what is a very difficult time. We remember both Mary Lynn and David over the years as great friends and now we are assured that they are together again. You are blessed to have had such caring parents. We know Mary Lynn is now free to roam about “Heaven” without a wheel chair. May God continue blessing you in the days ahead.

  22. Godspeed Mrs. Gentry! I already miss our monthly chats. Rest in peace. Prayers of comfort and support for you all Diane, David and families.

  23. I share Millie Lane-Berg’s comments about our fellow classmate. Smart, talented, and wise. A pleasure to be around as a neighbor and during our days at Calhoun-Clemson.

  24. Like Honey Booker Ryan, I was a sister of Mary Lynn’s good friend Frances. Frances practically lived at their house. But I was also Tommy White’s classmate. Mighty fine fellow! Tommy, you will certainly miss your sister, and you have my deep sympathy.
    Fondly, Liz Booker Knight

  25. Was sadden to hear of Mary Lynn’s passing. We were longtime friends from the beauty salon for many years. She was always so sweet even in her painful days

  26. Diane and Dave , it was my honor to know and love your Mom for over half my life. We started out as hairdresser/client some 35 years ago. She gathered me into the fold of those she loved and blessed me so much with the mother’s love that I didn’t have prio to knowing her. She was the most thoughtful person ever, always thinking of helping others. She believed in me when I didn’t and helped me heal emotionally and and spiritually. I know that she’s Home now with our Heavenly Father and your very special Dad, and we will miss her so much. Love,


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