Mary Slade Lail, 83, passed away on Sunday, November 26, 2023 in Sandy Springs following a stroke in late August. Mrs. Lail was born September 8, 1940 in Griffin, Ga. to the late Mary Evelyn Dunlap Slade and Ira Hunt Slade. She graduated from Griffin High School in 1958 and went on to attend Valdosta State College.
Lail
She wrote and published several books of prose and poetry. In the early 1980s she and her husband enjoyed performing with the Duluth Cloggers and even appeared on the Dinah Shore Show. She was involved with many community organizations including the Duluth Fall Festival committee as well as local and state education committees.
Mrs. Lail was a true southern woman. To know Mary was to love her. She was never short on fresh flowers or sweet tea with a pinch of mint. Mary loved to make everything pretty and was the perfect hostess. She always had a smile on her face and her blue eyes were always sparkling.
Mary is predeceased by her parents, five brothers, Ira “Dutch” Jr, Dick, David, Dan, and Dunlap Slade, and a niece, Deanna Callaway Wells. She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Wallace Lail of Duluth, sons Ray (Katie) Lail of Lilburn, Slade (Kristy) Lail of Duluth, and Brandan Lail of Dawsonville, grandchildren Griffin, Spencer, Ethan, Carson (Lexie), Garrett, Sidney, Jamie, Scarlett, Isaiah, Emory, Hudson, Silas, and Georgia Claire Lail, nephews Chris (Terri) Callaway, and Kevin (Lisa) Callaway, great-nephews Derek, Devan (Lindsey), and Kevin Callaway, and great-niece Lauren Callaway.
Visitation will be at Bill Head Funeral Home in Duluth on Thursday, November 30 from 2 – 4 p.m. and 6 – 8 p.m. Funeral services will be Friday, December 1 at 2:30 p.m. at Duluth First United Methodist Church. Flowers are welcome and donations to the Woody Gap School in Suches, Ga. would also be appreciated.
Bill Head Funeral Homes and Crematory, Duluth Chapel, is handling arrangements.
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