September 14 1927 October 19 2019
Mary’s Obituary Mary Virginia Smith Pendergrass was the daughter of Henry and Jewel Tate Smith. She was born September 14, 1927 in Huntsville, Texas in Walker county and died October 19, 2019 in Round Rock, Texas in Williamson County. Mary Virginia Smith Pendergrass graduated from North High School in Columbus, Ohio in 1944 and then attended Baylor University, graduating in May 1948 with a degree in sociology. Her first job after graduation was as an Executive Director for the Camp Fire Girls of Alice, Texas. She had many positions during her career including working as a fifth-grade teacher in Mesquite ISD, serving as a child protective services officer for Camp county and as an adult probation officer for the 271st Judicial District in Mount Pleasant, Texas. After moving from Pittsburg to Austin in 1981 she earned her Texas real estate and broker’s license working for Sherry Brown Realtors and specializing in national relocation. Throughout her life, Mary served her community and worked for the betterment of those around her. While in Pittsburg, she was a member of the 20th Century Study club of Pittsburg, the oldest women’s club, and served as its president from 1965 – 1966. She also served as a leader of Junior Girl Scout Troop 88 and was president of the Parent Teachers Association where she worked with Donna Hodge to have the school board remove sugared beverages from the schools within Pittsburg ISD. Ultimately, this decision was reversed due to the high school principal’s concern about lost revenue. She worked with Laverne Davis to start the first Republican Party in Camp county, and the following year the county went for Eisenhower. After moving to Austin, she served as a convention delegate to 2 different Texas State Republican Conventions. Always socially minded, she upset convention after arriving in Pittsburg, Texas when she insisted on paying household domestic help minimum wage and paying their social security as opposed to the customary $2 per day, regardless of the number of hours worked. She endured great scorn for this but held firm. She was honored by the citizens of Pittsburg/Camp County Chamber of Commerce as “Woman of the Year” in 1975 – 1976. She had a life-long love of music and encouraged her children in this area. She played the piano and loved opera. Mary served on the Board of Directors of the Austin Musical Theater for 7 years. Mary was a member of St. David’s Episcopal Church for many years and was a member of the order of the Daughters of the King. Serving one year as its president. Mary was a woman of great faith who expressed God’s unconditional love to those around her. She had an amazing gift of hospitality and had the ability to make everyone feel loved and accepted. She had a great love for her family and her most important work was as a wife and mother and later as a mother-in-law, grandmother and great grandmother. She was the glue that held her family together and will be greatly missed. She was preceded in death by both parents and her beloved husband of 67 years, Robert Keith Pendergrass, Sr., MD. She is survived by her four children, Robert Keith Pendergrass, Jr. and wife Juli, Mary Virginia Lannen and husband Rick, Henry Lee Pendergrass and wife Colleen, Peter William Pendergrass and wife Desiree; and 9 grandchildren, Virginia Leigh Hart, John Bucy III, Richard Henry Lannen, Anna Pendergrass Rankin, Sarah Pendergrass, Peter Pendergrass, Jr., Katherine Pendergrass, Abby Pendergrass, Annie Pendergrass; and 2 step-grandchildren, Whitney and Justin Lannen, and 3 great-grandchildren, Catherine, Jackson and Ryan Hart. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made, in memory of Mary Virginia Smith Pendergrass, to: Samaritan’s Purse Read More
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Mary Virginia Pendergrass September 14 1927 October 19 2019.
Death notice for the town of: -, state: Texas