Our dearest Mary Lee Hunter died peacefully at the age of 71 years old in her home in Alvin, South Carolina, surrounded by her loved ones, on September 15, 2022, at 8:21 p.m.

Mary Lee Greene was born to Addison and Ruby Greene, Sr. on December 29, 1950, in Alvin, South Carolina. The sixth of twelve beautiful children, she was raised to appreciate hard work through daily chores with her siblings that included tobacco harvesting and picking, sewing, cooking, and raising livestock.

Mary was a part of the 1969 graduating class of Russellville High School. She served as an active member and continued to spearhead activities throughout the years. Mary was and still is the glue that kept the class connected.

At an early age, she professed her faith in Jesus Christ and joined Alice Temple Church (now Refuge Temple Church) where she was a dedicated member and head of the Hospitality team for over 40 years. It was there that Mary was united in holy matrimony to Ronald D. Hunter, Sr. on April 14, 1979. Their union blessed them with five loving children and 41 years of marriage.

Here's a clip of Her story...MaeMae, as her family and close friends affectionately called her, was a beautiful woman that gave her heart and soul to everyone she met. Her life's journey opened the door for her to meet some amazing people and do so many great things. MaeMae joined and retired from Albany International as a Seam Specialist in the early 1980's. She was great at her job, but better at telling a joke or two to pass time. MaeMae was very outgoing and did whatever it took to bring a smile to everyone's face. She later pursued a second job with Berkeley County School District as a bus driver where she devoted over 5 years to driving.

Although she loved her jobs, she always found herself cooking. A meal here, a catering event there or simply an invitation to her home, Mae Mae's food was cooked with love not measurements. In 1989, MaeMae and Ronald decided to open a restaurant, Mary Lee's, in the heart of St. Stephen. With one daughter on the register and the other serving customers, everyone learned just how much they loved her cooking. It was this move that stimulated the interest in others to start their own respective catering businesses and join the foodservice industry. MaeMae also found herself making dishes for her friends' and family on holidays and many times, just because they wanted to taste her food; but mostly since she loved doing it.

MaeMae was the cake decorator for your wedding, the fruit cake specialist during the holidays, the chitterling girl and oh my, if you never tasted her stuffing or heron and rice, you missed out on a delicious meal. She cooked for her church, she cooked for other small businesses (remember Al's seafood); our MaeMae even made the punch. She purposely opened her home to anyone that would eat and enjoy a good laugh. Many nights she welcomed football and basketball players of St. Stephen and Timberland High for pre- and post-game dinners; she traveled to Tennessee to prepare homecooked meals for her daughter's college friends, and often made delightful dishes for many others, bringing the laughter along with her. You could catch her on any given Sunday at Refuge Temple, in the kitchen preparing, cooking, and serving. After retiring from Albany, she took on the task of feeding employees from her home. Many days MaeMae would cook, and Ronald would deliver a car full of dinners to her friends, family, and former coworkers. She took on many other various projects, cooking for Alvin Tri County Senior, various schools within the Berkeley County area, and RubyJack to name a few.

MaeMae was a self-proclaimed photographer. Often, she would catch herself taking pictures of beauty through her eyes. She loved photographing food, people, precious moments, and flowers. MaeMae loved her yellow roses. She loved to smell them, grow them, photograph them, but most of all, give them to others.

MaeMae loved to sew, garden, watch sports, fellowship with her friends, and watching a little Madea was a favorite as well. Once her heels hit the floor, a laugh was sure to follow. Her most serene moments were found during the late-night hours. When the moon was at its fullest and the night was still, the inside of her father's, Jack Greene's, home was at its loudest. She spent precious time with Dad (as she called him) watching wrestling as well. She even sang. MaeMae loved her music; gospel, CCM, old-school, and some good old fashion country.  She never knew a stranger, everyone MaeMae met became her friend or adopted son or daughter. She loved doing so many things and most of all she loved her family. Ask her husband and he'll tell you, "Mary Lee is the nicest person anyone would ever want to meet."

MaeMae started Saturday mornings making breakfast just in case. She spent countless weekends shopping for trinkets and collectibles with her sisters; fellowshipping with church ladies and friends; and enjoying a show or two with many of them as well. MaeMae was also a collector of bells, wine, and angels. If you had a birthday, she reminded you before your day began with a heartfelt card arriving a few days before your big day enclosed with $1. You got a card for Valentines, Easter, Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Just Because. Her grandchildren were her everything. She followed their games, video called them daily, traveled to see them and bragged to everyone about all their accomplishments. She gave the biggest hugs and the sweetest smiles. Her hands, her heart, her love is what brought all of us together.

Her heart was designed to serve. She served the class of '69; she served her community; she served her employers; she served on various ministries, including the Pastors Aide Committee, Woman's Ministry, and Hospitality; she served her family; she served her friends; God's purpose for her was fulfilled. She was born to serve.

Our girl, wife, mom, grandmother, sister, auntie, cousin, best friend, godmother; confidant, caterer, mentor, prayer warrior, comedian, life of the party, classmate, coworker; Dragon, Rams, and Timberland supporter, wants you to Hold it in the road ! She is now our angel.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,  - Hebrews 12:1 ESV

She is preceded in death by parents Addison and Ruby Greene, Sr., and her siblings, Herbert Lee Lampkin, Theodore Greene, and Marionette Greene.

Mary's aka MaeMae's beautiful life will forever be cherished in the lives of her family. She leaves, to carry on the legacy, her loving husband Ronald D. Hunter, Sr. of Alvin, SC; children, Shaevri Greene of Anniston, AL; Simone Hunter of Pensacola, FL; Ebony (Dr. Gabriel) Warren of Woodbury, MN; Ronald Hunter, Jr. of Alvin, SC; and LaTesha Edwards of Lumberton, NJ; siblings, Wilma Taylor, Nathaniel (Deloris) Greene, Morris Greene, Addison (Cynthia) Greene, Jr., Annette (David) McBride, Robert Lee Greene, Verna (Russel) Black, Vernon (Barbara) Greene, and Travis Greene; thirteen grandchildren, Ayshya, Devante', Shalaya, Tre'von, Jaylen, Tyler, Jasmine, Gabriel II, Christian, Kyree, Legacy, Rae, and Omega, one great-grandchild, Kyro; three grandchildren of the heart, Shakiem, Janaris and Janelle; four god children, Travis, Shonda, Devon and Kayla; a host of devoted nieces, nephews, cousins; friends; Marcella W., Marcella M., Kate, Janeen, Sonya, Jennifer, and Barbara; and an abundance of other close friends and family.

Viewing will be held on Friday, September 23, 2022, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., at GETHERS ST. STEPHEN CHAPEL, 221 Church Road, St. Stephen, SC. FACE MASKS ARE REQUIRED. A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, September 24, 2022, 11:00 a.m., at Refuge Temple Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ, 3674 North Highway 52, St. Stephen, SC. Face masks are highly recommended.

The service may be viewed via Zoom. Meeting ID: 856 7025 8832    Phone Number: 646-558-8656                        The service also will be livestreamed on the funeral home's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/gethersfh .

Interment will be in Bethlehem Baptist Memorial Cemetery, Greentown Road, St. Stephen, SC.