Mary Erving
Mary Minell Steens Erving, 84, of Chattanooga, died on Friday, May 29, 2015 in a local hospital.
She was born April 18, 1931, to Houston and Matilda Warren Steens in Kosciusko, Ms. Most of her working career was spent in foodservice in Mississippi, Chattanooga, and Chicago. She worked at the Scenic Grill, Albert Pick, Fehn’s, and was part of the inaugural staff of the Sheraton Downtown Hotel. She retired after 18 years from Montford Jones Memorial Hospital in Kosciusko, Ms.
She was preceded in death by her husband, James Erving; daughter, Anne; father, Houston; stepfather, Joe Willie Bentley; mother, Matilda Steens Bentley; brother, Victor Bentley, Sr.; and other close relatives. Survivors include her sister, Laverne Steens Harper; nieces, Lydia Fair, Willie Roundtree, Jacqueline Harper, Cassandra Page, Diana Sims, Diola Bentley, Beverly Edmonds, Rebecca Suttles, Linda (Harold) Smith, Dorothy Stewart, and Mabel (Carlton) Lamar; nephews, Victor (Debra) Bentley, Charlie (Betty) Bentley, Tony (Tammy) Harper, James (Teresa) Harper, and Zachary Holloway; special great-nephew, William D. Stewart; her Salis Grove family and a host of other relatives and friends.
She will lie in state on Saturday, June 6, at 9 a.m. at Taylor Funeral Home with the funeral to follow at 11 a.m. in the chapel with James Harper as the eulogist. Burial will be on Monday, June 8, at 10:30 a.m. in Forest Hills Cemetery.