Marylou Elizabeth Beene

Mary Lou Johnson Beene “Ms. Mary” entered this world April 2, 1929 in Richmond, Virginia as the third of ten children born to Sparky and Vernell Johnson. 

She attended Richmond Public Schools and was a member of the St. Paul Baptist Church. She worked in Food Services in Richmond and was married to David Jones and from that union came Marilyn.

In 1958 the family moved to Nashville, Tennessee where she joined the Pleasant Green Baptist Church. She found employment at Meharry Medical College where she worked until 1965 when she began working at Tennessee State University until her retirement in early 2000.

She was an exceptionally faithful church member and went beyond the call of duty to help ease the pain and fulfill the needs of the shut in, the hungry and the homeless through her work with the We Haven’t Forgotten You ministry.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur Beene and six siblings.

She leaves the following to cherish her memory: Sisters - Helen Chiles, Louise McQueen; Brother -Edward (Marcie) Johnson; Loving Daughter - Marilyn Merriweather; Three Grand Children – Daniel, Marlon, and Yolanda; Six Great Grand Children and three Great-Great-Grand Children.