Mary Elizabeth Hood

Mary Elizabeth Latimer Hood passed away Friday, August 12, 2011, at The Blake in Gulf Breeze, Florida and it is with great sadness that the Eubanks / Hardy family announce her death. At the time of her death, Mary was surrounded by family and the caring staff of The Blake and Emerald Coast Hospice. Mary is survived by her daughters, Mary Anne Hood Eubanks and husband, Verkuel N. Eubanks, of Rockville, Maryland, and Yvonne Regina Hood Hardy and husband, James W. Hardy, of Fort Walton Beach, Florida. In addition to Anne and Yvonne, Mary is survived by 51 grandsons, granddaughters, great-grandsons and granddaughters, great-great grandsons and granddaughters. Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Lewis W. Hood, Jr., son, Lewis W. Hood, III and grandson, Lewis W. Hood, IV, her beloved parents, Walter Holley Latimer and Mary Adele Latil Latimer, and sisters, Adele Winona Latimer and Ruth Latimer Ramsay Campbell. Mary was born October 12, 1912 to Walter and Adele in Back Bay, Biloxi, Mississippi. Mary graduated from Biloxi High School and was active in basketball, tennis and swimming. Mary and Lewis lived in Oxford, Mississippi while Lewis completed and earned his degree in Pharmacy at Ole Miss. They lived for several years in Laurel, MS before permanently moving back to Biloxi. Mary was a long time member of the First Baptist Church of Biloxi and an active member of the Order of Eastern Star, attaining the privilege of Grand Worthy Matron. Throughout her life, Mary loved golf and was an avid golfer with her many friends, playing and competing in golf tournaments at Gulf Hills in Ocean Springs and also at Sunkist and Great Southern in Biloxi. Mary loved making friends and will be remembered for all the kindnesses she showed in helping others in need and her loving devotion to all her children and grandchildren. In lieu of flowers the family prefers memorials in Mary's name to Emerald Coast Hospice, 1555 N. Palafox St., Pensacola, FL 32501 Services for Mary will be held Friday, August 19, 2011 at Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home on Pass Road in Biloxi. Visitation for family and friends will be at 12:00 noon followed by a celebration of Mary's life at 1:00 p.m. Interment will follow at Southern Memorial Park.