Obituary Mary Louise Perkins was born on July 17, 1921, in Amory, Mississippi (Cotton Gin) to the Late Peter White and Elizabeth Dance White. Mary attended the Monroe County Public School System and held many job positions throughout Indiana, Chicago and finally retiring from the Amory Garment Plant in Mississippi.

Mother Perkins was the proud mother of one child, Frances L. Brown. Mary was a dedicated member of St. James Missionary Baptist Church in Amory, Mississippi where she served faithfully until moving to Jacksonville, Florida to live with her daughter. In Jacksonville, Mary joined Greater Zion Grove Missionary Baptist Church where she was a faithful member and became the beloved Mother of the Church. It was here that she carried on with her tradition of giving out candy. The "Candy Lady" had traveled from Mississippi to Florida.

Mother Perkins enjoyed singing, fishing doing word search puzzles and watching "Westerns" on television. Her favorite foods were chicken legs and chicken feet.

The Lord called Mother Perkins home on March 25, 2026. What a blessing to have had her for 104 years. She was preceded in death by her parents: Peter and Elizabeth White; brothers: Andrew, Cleodis, John, Ira and Climie; sisters: Mary, Bessie, Ordia, and Bridgianna. She is now reunited with her parents, siblings, family and dear friends who have gone on before her. Mother Mary leaves to cherish her memory, daughter Frances L. Brown; grandchildren, Van Brown (Tara), Wayne Brown (Tamala), and Toby Brown (Nadia); great-grandchildren, Van II, Tyler, Taylor, Aryhana, Lyric, Nyla, Brittany, and Briana; great-great-grandchildren, Kanti and Amari; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Mrs. Perkins may be viewed on Saturday, April 4, 2026, at Greater Zion Grove Baptist Church, 6317 118th Street, Jacksonville, Florida 32244, from 10:00 a.m. Until 11:00 a.m.  Funeral Services will be held 11:00 a.m., Saturday, April 4, 2026, at Greater Zion Grove Baptist Church, 6317 118th Street, Jacksonville, Florida 32244 and the interment will be in Gethsemane Memorial Garden.

Carthage Chapel Funeral Home, Inc., 929 West Beaver Street, Jacksonville, Florida 32204