Mary Jane Cox Peebles Hill passed from this life to the next surrounded and comforted by her three children and other family members at her Shreveport home on December 11, 2020.

Blessed with a rich, full life of 89 years, she was born November 27, 1931 in Camden, Arkansas. She is preceded in death by her parents Samuel Mac Cox and Lillie Ellen Barkhimer Cox, half brother Chester Eugene Coke, the father of her children Adam LaVerne Peebles (Sonny), second husband John Berry Hill, Jr, and great grandson Adam Lawson.

Mary graduated from Fair Park High School, Shreveport, in 1951. She moved with her family to California where she met Sonny, the love of her life. They married in Reno, Nevada on December 21, 1951. She faithfully stood by his side as he battled Guillain-Barre Syndrome which left him on crutches. Together they had three daughters who became Mary's heart and soul. A wonderful mother and homemaker, Mary approached life with a bubbly gusto and intense passion. Her distinct, infectious laugh uplifted whomever she was around. She never met a stranger and loved as openly and honestly as she lived. A confirmed believer in doing-it-yourself, there were no at-home projects she wouldn't tackle and none that her determination didn't finish.

Mary was never far from her beloved gardening clippers and went nowhere without her cayenne pepper. Spending time in the yard was a favorite pastime. Known to revive clearance plants from Lowes, she was a shrewd bargain hunter and could stretch dollars a long way. Mary also loved volunteering and easily became the helping hand everyone loves and needs.

A God-fearing woman with a strong faith, she grew up attending First Pentecostal Church of Bossier. After moving back to Louisiana in 1965, the family joined her mother at Centenary Pentecostal of Shreveport. Her faith and determination made her a survivor through the challenges of single motherhood in 1978 and West Nile virus in 2018.

On September 1, 1988, she married widower John Hill who had built her family home. Together they traveled extensively, cruising several times a year. Broadmoor Baptist became her church home with John where she enjoyed attending Topsy Turvy exercise class, the Friendship Sunday School Class, the VIP, and the choir. She and John made many happy memories from singing karaoke to hosting family parties at their Spring Lake home. John took great care of Mary. Always ready to go, she continued her love of travel after his passing on September 27, 2011, taking trips with her senior church friends and family vacations as recently as July 2020. Two weeks before becoming ill, she was outside raking leaves giving credence to her motto of wanting to "wear out instead of rust out."

Mary's indomitable energy and love of life will be greatly missed. She is survived by one sister, June Delores Cox Hall (Calvin Hall) and her family; daughters Deborah LaVerne Collyer (Tim), Donna June Harris (Ken), and Mary Janette Menefee (Dan); seven grandchildren, Mary Matthews Lawson (Mike), Tiffany Collyer Green (Robert), all of Shreveport, Ian Collyer of Seattle, WA, Madelyn Menefee Langdon (Hunter), Morgan Harris (Jerri), Dillon Menefee,Jessica Harris Norden, all of Shreveport, and 5 great-grandchildren, Lillie Edwards, Hattie Lawson and Oliver, Travis, and Johnathan Green of Shreveport.

A memorial service celebrating Mary's life will be at Broadmoor Baptist Memorial Chapel at 10 a.m. with Dr. Larry Williams officiating. Guests are also encouraged to sign the guestbook at Auldsfuneral.com. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Broadmoor Baptist Weekday Preschool or the Disabled American Veterans charity.