Mary L. Perry

“We watched you slowly fade away,
We tried hard to make you stay.
But God watching from above,
Took you home to share his love.
Though you are no longer with us in
the physical sense, your love and your
spirit will remain in hearts forever.”

Mary Louise Perry (Tripp) was born on April 17, 1936 to Katie Louise Jordan (Tripp) and Frank Phelps in Edenton, North Carolina. She graduated from Edenton High School in 1954. Shortly thereafter she met and married Lonnie Perry in 1956, together they were blessed with three children Ronald G. Perry, Roger S. Perry, and Rhonda J. Perry.

In order to better provide for her family as a single mother Mary moved with her children to Boston Massachusetts in 1967. She attended and graduated from Dimock Community Health as a Certified Nursing Assistant. After graduation Mary began working for Jewish Memorial Hospital, from which she eventually retired in 2001. In June 2001, she moved to Portsmouth Virginia to enjoy her well-deserved retirement .

To know her you knew she was a true friend, a trusted confidant a woman of great faith, and wisdom. The love of her family brought her great joy. She was a phenomenal Mother, Grandmother, and Great-grandmother.

She was preceded in death by her Father, Frank Phelps; her Mother, Katie Louise Jordan; and Stepfather, John Henry Jordan.

Mary leaves to cherish her life and memories, her children, Ronald G. Perry (Valerie Perry) of Boston, MA, Roger S. Perry (Karen Fletcher) of Framingham, MA, Rhonda J. Perry of Portsmouth, VA and Adell Perry of Boston, MA; Grandchildren, Ronald Jason Perry, Justin J. Perry, Jasmine J. Perry, Roger S. Perry Jr, Emmanuel J. Perry, Matthew S. Perry, and Jordan L. Perry; Great-grandchildren, Jason C. Perry, and Jordin J. Perry; Brother, Robert S. Tripp (Ola M. Tripp) of Virginia Beach, Virginia; Uncle, John Lee Tripp Sr. (Dorothy Tripp) of Chesapeake, VA; and a host of other loving family members and friends.

A funeral service will be held on Monday, June 25, 2018, 11 am at New Calvary Baptist Church, 800 E. Virginia Beach Blvd., Norfolk, VA  23504.  Interment will be in Beaver Hill Cemetery, Edenton, NC.