Mrs. Mary Ludie Maness Steele's Obituary
Mary Ludie Maness was born at home on January 19, 1919 to Sallie and Amos Maness of Henderson County, TN. Ludie spent a happy childhood in Jackson, moving to the family farm near Medina in her teens, during the years of the Great Depression. Ludie was a good student and graduated from Medina High School in 1938.
In 1941 Ludie met James Vernon Steele. James has always felt that Ludie was created by God for him. They married on March 16, 1943, in Corinth, Mississippi, when James was on leave from the Army. Their marriage was witnessed by their sisters, Katherine Steele and Ruth Maness. Ludie embraced her husband’s large, affectionate family and loved each and every one of them, just as she loved her own parents, her brother and sister, her nieces and nephews.
The mid-40’s were turbulent years for Ludie. Her father was terminally ill and her beloved husband was in Europe, participating in some of the epic battles of WWII, including the invasion of Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge at Bastogne. Ludie worked at the Milan Arsenal, doing her part for the war effort, and wrote letters daily to her sweetheart. She bundled the letters she received from him, tied them with satin ribbons and kept them all her life.
Ludie and James had two daughters, Jeanette (Janie), born in 1946, and Susan, born in 1952. They lived in Medina from 1948-1955 where they were members of the Medina Methodist Church. Ludie worked at the telephone company, an old fashioned “number, please” telephone operator. In 1954 she was crowned Mrs. Medina in a local beauty revue.
In 1955 the Steeles moved to Humboldt. Ludie happily worked full-time as a homemaker. She sewed clothes for her girls and herself and was active in the First Methodist Church. Ludie was a mom who always found time to drive a carload of girls home from the movies, to share her kitchen with teenagers making pizzas, to welcome a girl or two or three for an overnight, or a college friend for a holiday. For three years she cared for her mother, who was bedridden, until the time of Mrs. Maness’ death.
When Janie and Susan were grown, Ludie and James moved to Nashville and became members of Inglewood United Methodist Church where they made many friends. They also spent much time with their life-long friends, E.C. and Katholeen Ray, of White House, and their family.
The Nashville years brought Ludie time with two grandchildren, J.J. Blair and Patrick Gulley. Ludie was genuinely interested in children and teenagers, listening respectfully to their ideas, opinions and problems. She loved her grandchildren, as she had their mothers, with unreserved enthusiasm. They responded in kind. J.J.’s four children, Briana, Dylan, Blair and James Gibbs and Patrick’s daughter, Lola Gulley, were the shining stars of Ludie’s later years. Ludie died at home on September 12, 2015.
Ludie enjoyed sewing, gardening, reading, baking, quilting and following the Lady Vols basketball team. And mostly she enjoyed spending time with family and friends. James describes Ludie as a “kind, sweet, loving, Christian wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, and a friend to all who really knew her.”
Ludie had a favorite saying: “What the heart loves, it keeps, and all is well, if not the same.” We will keep Ludie in our hearts, remembering her kindness, her laughter and her unconditional love.
“Precious memories, how they linger somewhere in our souls.” James says, with a kiss blown toward heaven, “Good-bye, sweetheart. I’ll see you later.”
The family will receive friends from 4-8 P.M. Wed. Sept. 16th and from 11 -1 P.M. Thurs. Sept. 17th at Spring Hill Funeral Home. A celebration of life funeral service will be held at 1 P.M. Thursday, Sept. 17, 2015 at Spring Hill Funeral Home with Reverend Jack Keller officiating. Interment will follow in Historic Spring Hill Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Inglewood United Methodist Church 3511 Gallatin Pike, Nashville TN 37216.
Arrangement entrusted to Spring Hill Funeral Home and Cemetery 5110 Gallatin Pike, Nashville TN 37216. 615-865-1101. www.springhillfh.com
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