AMERICUS — Mary Bell Ledbetter of Americus, Ga., passed away after a short illness on Saturday, July 29, 2017. She was born on June 14, 1943, to the late Jean Lockerman Bell and William Wallis Bell. She was also preceded in death by her first husband, Ellis Wayne Dean, and a stepson, Steven Russell Ledbetter.

She is survived by her husband, Robert Kenneth “Murph” Ledbetter of Americus, Ga.; daughter, Laura Dean Williams of Birmingham, Ala.; son, John Warren Dean and his wife Tiffany Slaton Dean of Americus, Ga.; grandchildren, Hannah O’Byrne Williams, Drake Brendan Williams Jr., Mary Catherine Dean, Robert Benjamin Ledbetter, James Gatewood Ledbetter, Thomas Dudley Ledbetter, Tyler Jackson Ledbetter, and Steven Robert Ledbetter; brother, William Wallis Bell Jr. and Sharon Flatt Bell and their children, Diane Bell Sheppard, William Wallis “Tripp” Bell III, Ashley Virginia Bell; stepson, Robert Johnston Ledbetter; daughters-in-law, Ira Dudley “Sissy” Ledbetter and Georgia Gatewood Ledbetter; and her special first cousin, Marian Shepard “Too-Too” Joiner.

She grew up in First United Methodist Church, Americus, Ga. She attended and graduated from Americus High School in the class of 1961. She was a first-grade teacher at Southland Academy from 1969-1972. She was a member of the Americus Junior Service League. She was a graduate of Georgia Southern College.  She was a longtime member of Calvary Episcopal Church, Americus, Ga. Mary loved to garden. She loved a sip of scotch with Murph at 5:01 p.m. while sitting on her back porch looking out over Lake Collins. She loved her friends and family and she loved to laugh.

A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 1 at Calvary Episcopal Church. A celebration of her life will follow at the Calvary Parish Hall.

You may sign the online guest book and share your own special thoughts and memories by visiting www.greghancockfuneralchapel.com.

Greg Hancock Funeral Chapel is in charge of these arrangements.