(Courtesy) Mary Thomas Downs

Mrs. Mary Thomas Dixon Downs (M.T.), 87, of Montezuma, GA passed away peacefully Saturday, August, 24, 2024 at The Oaks Nursing Home with her children by her side. The family will receive friends at Montezuma Methodist Church on Thursday, August 29, 2024 at 10:00 AM followed by a funeral at 11:00 AM in the church sanctuary with Rev. Jonathan Beckum officiating. A private family committal will follow at Andersonville National Cemetery.

Born Sept 28,1936 in Elbert County, Georgia, Mary Thomas was the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Cleo Dixon. Mary Thomas graduated from Montezuma High School in 1954 where she played guard for the Montezuma Aztecs Basketball team. After graduation, Mary Thomas continued her education and attended and graduated from Piedmont Nursing School in Atlanta with a Registered Nurse degree. Mary Thomas then went on to work at St. Mary’s Hospital in Athens, Georgia and later returned to Macon County where she worked at Southern Frozen Foods as their Industrial Nurse for 21 Years. She was also a member of the Macon County Junior service League and an active member of Montezuma Methodist Church, where she taught the three-year-old Sunday School Class for over 20 years.

After her retirement at Southern Frozen Foods, she fulfilled her love for gardening and flowers by opening a flower nursery called The Plant Barn. She along with family ran this nursery for several years, before she officially retired.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years Robert “Bobby” Downs. Survivors include, a son, Greg Downs (Connie), daughter, Marcia Dupree (Ben), two granddaughters, Whitney Bowen (Dustin), Bentley Goold (Patrick), two grandsons, Rett Downs (Caitlin), Wes Downs, (Carly), seven great-grandchildren, Andrew Bowen, Jacob Bowen, Julie Downs, Jenny Downs, Ginny Goold, Liam Goold, and Emma Downs.

The family is at the residence of Marcia and Ben Dupree.

Those desiring may make memorial donations in memory of Mary Thomas Downs to the Montezuma Methodist Church, P.O. Box 159, Montezuma, GA 31063.

To sign our online registry, or to send condolences to the family, you may visit Mathews’ website at www.mathewsfuneralhome.com

Mathews Funeral Home in Albany, GA is in charge of arrangements.