Mary Ellen Conway

Mary Ellen Conway passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by loved ones on September 12, 2026, at the age of 86. Born in the Lowery family home in Greenville, Alabama, on September 27, 1939, Mary grew up in a loving and close-knit family. She was the youngest of four children of Dovie Wright Lowery and Hattie Lee Lowery (Beverly). Mary learned the importance of hard work at an early age by helping with the farm chores and harvesting. She also learned the importance of family early on with the unexpected death of her father when she was just three months old. Mary’s maternal grandparents, Jefferson Abe Beverly and Rena Belle Beverly, lovingly stepped in to help Mary’s mother with the farm and children, and she remained close to them until their passing.

A lifelong Greenville resident, Mary grew up attending local public schools and graduated from Greenville High School in 1958. She met her future husband, Henderson Lee Conway, at a drive-in and they were married on Christmas Day 1958. Lee and Mary worked together to build a beautiful home on the same land Mary grew up on. They were blessed to have four children and instilled in them the same principles they had been taught- to love God, love others, and work hard. Mary worked as a textile factory worker for many years before her retirement. In retirement, she continued to keep and watch over grandkids, operate a cleaning business, and help tend to her church’s building and upkeep.

If anyone knew Mary, they knew she had two great loves- God and her husband. Mary and Lee were married for 52 years before his passing in 2011. The faithful and steadfast love they showed each other remains one of her family’s greatest blessings. Together, Lee and Mary attended Wald Church of Christ where they were active members. Mary rarely missed a worship service, church revival, or ladies’ event. She showed her children and grandchildren what it meant to love God with all your heart and to do His work faithfully.

Mary is survived by her 4 children: Angie Payne(Bart), Tina Luker(Keith), Lisa Bryant(Pete) and Jeff Conway(Kristy), 11 grandchildren: Amber Mullins(Jeff), Farren Knott(David), Forrest Luker(Erika), Kayla Kinzer(Ian), Taylor Payne(Chelsea), Ben Payne(Devin), Nathan Bryant(Taylor), Sam Bryant, Syndni Fronduti(Garrett), Mallory Keen(Mason), Lawson Conway, and 14 great grandchildren: Marley Ellen Mullins, Mason Mullins, Conway Knott, Goldie Knott, Dovie Knott, Ramsey Knott, Lila Kinzer, Maggie Kinzer, Avett Payne, Amelia Payne, Adlee Payne, Grace Harris, Asher Fronduti, and Baylor Bryant.

She was preceded in death by her husband Henderson Lee Conway, her parents Dovie Wright and Hattie Lee Lowery, her grandparents Jefferson Abraham and Rena Belle Beverly and her 3 siblings Sallie Belle Lowery, Edward Dovie Lowery, and Melba Lowery Burnett.

Visitation will be held at Dunklin Funeral Home on September 15th, from 6:00-8:00. The funeral will be held at Wald Church of Christ the following day, September 16th, at 11:00.