Mary Virginia Dunlap

Mrs. Mary Dunlap, age 70, of Dothan, Alabama passed away Monday, December 21, 2020. Graveside service will be held on Tuesday, December 29, 2020 at 1 PM at Gates of Heaven Cemetery.

SGT (R) Mary V. Jackson Dunlap (Marfa) went home to be with her Lord and Savior at Southeast Health, Dothan, AL after a brief illness. She was 70 years old. 

Marfa was born in Hopkinsville, Kentucky on June 14, 1950 to James and Mary Ella Jackson. She joined Durrett Ave Baptist Church at an early age where she sang in the Young Adult Choir and was a member of the Usher Board. Marfa was 1 of 10 black students from an all black school in Kentucky to integrate the all white Christian County High School. She graduated high school in the class of 1968. 

After graduation, she joined the US Women's Army Corps (WAC) and continued a career of 20 years with assignments overseas in Korea and Germany as well as several state side army posts. She met her husband SFC Dale Dunlap Sr. while they were both stationed at Fort Campbell, KY where they married in 1980. Dale retired in 1987 and Mary continued her military career retiring in 1992. After retirement, she moved her family to settle in Dothan, Al.  Mary continued her education and received an Associate of Science degree from Troy University and a Bachelor of Science degree from Columbia Southern University. Mary was never afraid of a challenge; she had a desire to accomplish any task she started. 

After moving to Dothan with her husband and children, Mary joined New Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church where she enjoyed singing in the choir. Mary loved her family more than anything and would do anything to protect them.

She is preceded in death by her parents: James and Mary Ella Jackson; infant daughter: ShaRonda Tidwell; brothers: James Jackson, Jr., Charles Jackson, Paul Jackson; sister: Delma Davis; step-daughter: Andrea Dunlap; granddaughter: Neveah Faith Saucier; and great granddaughter: Sutton Butler.

Mary leaves to mourn her passing, her husband: SFC (R) Dale Dunlap, Sr. of Dothan, AL; Sons: Andre Dunlap of Germany, Marcus (Scocia) Dunlap, Dale Dunlap, Jr., RonDale Dunlap, all of Dothan, AL and stepson David Baker of Huntsville, AL; Daughters: Traci (Gary) Waters of Enterprise AL, Debra (James) Middleton of Lawton, OK, CorDale (Chris) Snell of Dothan, AL; step-daughters Suzette Saucier of Mobile, AL and Sharlene (Chris) Thompson of Atlanta, GA; Sisters: Nettie Beatrice Poindexter of Chicago, IL, Barbara Mitchell of Allen, TX, Beverly Belcher of San Antonio, TX, and Lisa Jackson of Hopkinsville, KY; Brothers: William Jackson and Michael Jackson both of Hopkinsville, KY. Mary had 27 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren, 3 great grands on the way, and more than 100 nieces and nephews all who loved her dearly. Special thanks to the "Grands" of 900 LaGrand "Bazil", "Sugar Pie" and "Ms. Paige". Special sister-in-law: Ruth Reaves; special friends: Linda Brightman, Mertis Ralls, Tomorrow Bush, Patricia White, Ruby Laurie and Felicia Franklin. 

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