Mary Ruth Foshee Gunnels, 95, of Richland, Georgia, passed away early the morning of Wednesday, May 30, 2018, at Sumter Retirement Village, in Plains, Georgia.   Mary is at peace and with her beloved Charlie, who died on November 30, 2017, after 66 years of marriage.

Mary was born on September 23, 1922 in Vienna, Georgia, to the late John Pierce Foshee and Ida Beatrice Levie Foshee.  She graduated from Georgia State College for Women, in Milledgeville, Georgia, with a Teaching Degree.

After college, Mary moved to this area and was employed as a Home Economist working in the Stewart/Webster Counties Mary and Charlie met, fell in love and married in 1951.  She was a member of the Richland First Baptist Church and served as Church Historian.  She was an active member of the Richland Garden Club.  Mary was a retired teacher, having taught in the Stewart County School System, Webster County School System and at Greenfield Academy in Weston, Georgia.

She had been a very active member, committee member and an officer in several of the societies listed below:  United Daughters of the Confederacy, previously Richland Chapter, then in the Mary Brantley Chapter, in Dawson; National Society Daughters of the America Revolution, previously Roanoke Chapter, Richland, then the George Walton Chapter in Columbus; National Society Daughters of the American Colonist; National Society Colonial Dames XVII Century, the Major Peter Fields Chapter, in Columbus; National Society, Magna Charta Dames; National Society Daughters of Colonial Wars; National Society Dames of the Court of Honor.

Mary had many talents, gardening, flower arranging, gathering the history of churches, the city of Richland, the county, etc.  She enjoyed fishing and working in the yard with Charlie.  They always had flowers and vegetables growing in their yard.  Mary sent time going to her boy's games and events. Mary was an amazing teacher having taught and remembered all her students.  She was quick to remind former students of their being in her classroom!

Mary and Charlie would take bus tours from Columbus with their regular Church group.  She and Charlie would delight everyone with each of the aspects of the tours.  Mary never missed any event when the word "go" was used.  She was the true spirit of learning, slowing down only meant her body moved slower, never her mind!

Mary had a love for history that lead her down the long road to genealogy and to heraldry research.  Mary never gave up her hunt.  She and Charlie would travel to libraries so that she could do research.  Later on in life, Mary and Sally McGlaun Baldwin teamed up to made the library rounds, genealogy meetings and conferences.  One of her treasured driving trips was to Washington, DC to the Daughters of the American Revolution, Continental Congress with Charlie and Sally.  Philip took the train down from New York to visit and serve as tour guide.  It was an amazing road trip with many side stops!!

She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Charlie, her five brothers and two sisters.

Survivors include her two beloved sons, Charles Phillip Gunnels of New York City, New York, and Thomas Mark (Angela) Gunnels of McDonough, Georgia; and three amazing grandchildren, Rachel Beth Gunnels, Lauren Foshee Gunnels and Clay Thomas Gunnels, all of McDonough, Georgia; and one great-granddaughter, Ansley Beth Clark.

A Visitation Service with family and friends will be held Friday evening, June 1, 2018, from 6:00 to 7:00 PM at Baldwin Funeral Home in Richland, Georgia.

The Church Service will be held on Saturday, June 2, 2018, at 11:00 AM at Richland First Baptist Church in Richland, Georgia, burial was in Harmony Cemetery.  The Reverend Robert Orr and Jack Holbrook will officiate the service, with Melody Brazier providing music, "What a Friend We have in Jesus" and "Mighty Fortress".

Pallbearers serving:  Jimmy Adams, David Barrett, Allen Barrett, Jimmy Brazier, Sammy Brazier, Michael Hendon, Alfred Jackson, Steve Smith, Christoper Hendon

Honorary Pallbearers:  Robert Patterson, Bill Coy, Joel Robertson, Larry Smith, Johnny Murrah, Adolph McLendon, Gary Blackburn, Marty David, Lee Davis

In lieu of flowers:  Donations may be made and sent in Mary's memory to Richland First Baptist Church, in care of Bethany Norman, 19875 GA Hwy 27, Richland, GA.  31825.

Baldwin Funeral Home was in charge of all arrangements.   Visit the online guest book on the Baldwin Funeral Home web site at www.baldwinfuneralhome.com .  Baldwin Funeral Home, 50 Charles Overby Dr., P. O. Box 394, Richland, GA 31825       229-887-2750