Marie “Mary” Anthony

Published 1:45 pm Friday, August 6, 2021

Marie “Mary” Louise Ware Anthony passed away July 31, 2021, at Timeless Grace living facility in Carriere, Miss. She was born with her twin sister in Rayne in 1923. She was raised in Opelousas. She graduated Louisiana State University with a bachelor’s degree in English in 1944. In 1945, she married John Wood Anthony and they subsequently moved to Bogalusa.

Mary was a life-long Episcopalian and a devoted member of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Bogalusa. She served in numerous capacities of service and leadership throughout her 76 years of membership there. She also served on the Bogalusa Community Medical Center Board for 20 years. She was a founding member of the Bogalusa Civic League and served as president in her younger years. She was an avid gardener, an expert in the native plants of Louisiana, and a certified flower show judge. She was a member of the Northeast Garden Club in Bogalusa for over 50 years. She was granted the Circle of Roses award in 2012 from the state Garden Club association for her years of service in the Northeast Garden Club. During the 1970s, she also served on Bogalusa’s biracial committee.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Amelia and James Ware; her husband, John Wood Anthony; her siblings, James Ware Jr., Josephine Ware Wallis (twin), G. Bradford Ware and Moina Ware Lucent; and her daughters, Mary Anthony and Virginia (Ginny) Anthony Rodriguez.

She is survived by her daughter, Dr. Susan Anthony (Philip) Crawford; her cherished granddaughter, Mary Margaret Crawford; her niece, Dr. Caroline Wallis (Douglas) Goddard; Doug (Leanne) Goddard, Catherine Goddard Dziewulski and Ben (Leigh) Goddard; and numerous other cousins, nieces and nephews.

Special thanks to her Bogalusa caretakers, Rosalind Wilson, Nancy Rowell, Sarah Owens, Amanda McNabb, Ashley Daigle, Shelia Gaines and Katie Freeman, and to the staff of Timeless Grace in Carriere.

Poole-Ritchie Funeral Home was in charge of burial arrangements. The Rev. LeBaron Taylor officiated a graveside service at Ponemah Cemetery on Tuesday, Aug. 2.