Mary Virginia (Mitchell) Little

Mary Little passed peacefully into Heaven on Saturday, January 14, 2023, two months shy of her 100th birthday.

Mary is survived by her son, Robert Little; her daughter, Susan Bartholomew (Russell); grandsons, Michael Bartholomew (Courtney) and Jacob Bartholomew (Sara); great-granddaughter Ellie;  great-grandson, Logan; brother, Earl Mitchell (Jeanette), and many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband, Edward Little; parents, Rober Harris and Mary Joyce Mitchell;  and brothers Harris Mitchell, Edward Mitchell (Margaret), and Clyde Mitchell (Evelyn).

Mary was born and raised in Greensboro, NC with her four brothers by wonderful parents. She met Ed in the high school band and also at church. At age 20 she took a train to Austin, TX to marry Ed in the middle of WWII. They were blessed to celebrate 75 years of marriage.

In 1950 Ed and Mary moved to Los Alamos, NM, where we, their two children, were born and grew up. We have such wonderful memories of family, friends, and church. Mom was a homemaker, spending most of her time in the kitchen making meals and baking from scratch. We always had a dessert for lunch and dinner. Mom loved to serve others in need or sick by providing a meal or dessert. She loved having company over for Sunday dinner, having and attending teas with her friends, and visiting in person and on the phone. Ed and Mary were faithful members of First Baptist Church Los Alamos since 1950.

Later in life, Mom and Dad spent 30 years splitting their time between Los Alamos and Sun City, AZ, where they made close friends and attended a church they also loved, First Baptist Church Sun City. Until Dad passed away in 2019, they lived independently and Mom continued to be a homemaker, preparing all their meals, looking after neighbors, and entertaining friends into her mid 90's.

After Dad passed, Mom moved into a retirement community in Albuquerque where she lived in an apartment in Independent Living. She didn't cook again. She enjoyed her time there and was very active, discovering bingo, attending Bible study, going to movies (she especially loved a "movie with popcorn"), going to several exercise classes a week, and taking a walk every day. She would visit friends in the facility who were recovering in the rehab or Assisted Living sections. It was only the last several months that she declined in health.

Mom was a devoted Christian; loving, selfless, unassuming, always thinking of others. They led simple lives but very full lives of faith, family and friends. Until her accident, every day Mom faithfully read her Bible and prayed for family, friends, the church, and her country. Her Bible was taped together, a sign that it was well used.
Mom loved her family and was thrilled with her two great grandchildren. She lit up when she saw them, even on her last day on earth. Hers was a full life. She will be greatly missed.

Arrangements are being handled by French Funerals and Cremations. There will be a Memorial Service at Sandia Presbyterian Church, 10704 Paseo del Norte, NE, Albuquerque, NM on Thursday, January 26, 2023 at 10:30 a.m., with a lunch reception to follow. Interment will take place at Santa Fe National Cemetery on Friday, February 3, 2023.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to the New Mexico Baptist Children's Home in Portales, NM, nmbch.com