Mary Frances Dent Terry

VICKSBURG, Miss.(VDN) — Mary Frances Dent Terry was born November 21, 1929 in Vicksburg, Mississippi, and passed away on Wednesday, January 14, 2026 at her home surrounded by her family. A lifelong resident of Vicksburg, she was 96.

Mrs. Terry was preceded in death by her parents, Robert (Bob) L. Dent and Mary Frances Martin Dent, her husband, Jospeh Stanford Terry, Sr., her sister, Ethel Sue Fair, her daughters-in-law, Sallie Terry, granddaughter Sara Ann Terry and Georgia Horn Terry.

Mary Frances graduated from Carr Central High School and attended Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri. She returned to Vicksburg, where she met and married her husband of 56 years, Joseph Stanford Terry, Sr. Mary Frances was very active in both the civic and business community.  She was the first senior hostess of the Miss Mississippi Pageant in Vicksburg. She was also active in fundraising for the Mississippi Heart Association Annual Charity Ball. She was an active member of the Antique Club and the Junior Auxiliary. She served in the Mississippi House of Representatives in 1974 and 1975, where she was particularly instrumental in the breakfast programs for the public schools. She was a member of the Needlework Guild and the Altar Guild of the Church. She was on the Board of Directors and one of the owners of Magnolia Hotel Corporation, which included The Hotel Vicksburg, The Magnolia Hotel, and Delta Point Restaurant, overlooking the Mississippi River. At Delta Point, she was the director of weddings, banquets, and special events. 

She is survived by her children, Marilyn Dent Terry, Joseph Stanford Terry, Jr., and Robert Dent Terry; sister, Hilda Dent Hands; her five grandchildren, Jennifer Uggen (Jon), Stanford Blake Terry (Jennifer), Anna Terry Wadler (Jarrett), Elizabeth Cutrell (Ken), and Catharine Terry; six great grandchildren, Benson Terry, Pearce Terry, Ella Uggen, Madeline Uggen, Ben Cutrell, and Alex Cutrell, all of whom lovingly referred to Mary Frances as “Meffie”, and her housekeeper and special friend of 46 years, Doris Carter, and a host of other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, in the Parish Hall of the Church of the Holy Trinity, 900 South Street, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. The service will begin at 11:00 a.m. at The Church of the Holy Trinity, with Rev. Beth Palmer officiating. Interment will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Blake Terry, Claude Fair, John Uggen, Travis Sigh, Robert Gage, and Jarrett Wadler.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Church of the Holy Trinity, 900 South Street, Vicksburg, MS 39180 or to a charity of your choice.

The family is grateful and appreciative of Niecole, Ada, April, Vera, Linda, Cee Cee, Brooke, and Doris for the love and care shown to Mary Frances.