Mary Ethel Dent Lawhorn was born January 10, 1941, in Mitchell County, Georgia. She was the third of ten children born to late John Henry Dent and Laura Lee Carwell Dent.

Sister Mary confessed CHRIST at an early age, attending New Salem Missionary Baptist Church with her parents and siblings, James, Johnnie Mae, Vera, Rosa, Howard, Hubert, Charles, and Andrew. Oldest sister, Annie Queen died as an infant. Preceding her in death are siblings Howard Dent, Hubert Dent, Andrew Dent, and Rosa Dudley.

Mary attended and graduated from Camilla Consolidated High School in 1959. She later left her home state. This is where she met and married Earnest Lee Lawhorn in 1962.

The couple then settled and made Fort Lauderdale, Florida their home. To this union two children were born, Steve Lawhorn and Lauretha Lawhorn. Mary was a faithful member of Greater Faith Temple Church of Christ in Fort Lauderdale.

Mary worked for Wingate Oaks Center in Fort Lauderdale for 35 years before retiring in 2005. After retirement she and husband, Lee, moved back to Georgia. Shortly after, Mary joined Open Door Church of Praise in Camilla.

Mary's husband, Lee, preceded her in death. Mary then married Jessie Wimberly in 2011 until his passing in 2020.

On Tuesday, December 3, 2024, Mary answered the final call and she transitioned from this earthly life to life everlasting.

Mary leaves in celebration of her life a son, Steve Ernest Lawhorn; a granddaughter, Elantra Dontrail Clark; stepchildren, Sandra Wimberly-Cooper (Rodney), Douglas Wimberly, Tonya Wimberly, Terrence Wimberly, Melody Wimberly, Jessica Wimberly; brothers, James Dent (Aldine) of Camilla, Georgia, Andrew Dent (Teresa), of Atlanta, Georgia, Charles Dent (Linda), of Atlanta, Georgia; sisters, Johnnie Mae Williams (Forrest) of Camilla, Georgia, Vera Roberts (Lonnie) of Atlanta, Georgia; six brothers-in-law, David Dudley, Sr., of Hinesville, Georgia and Bob Lawhorn, R. J. Wimberly (Laura), Willie D. Wimberly of Camilla, Georgia, Jamie Wimberly of Baltimore, Maryland, Horace Wimberly of Americus, Georgia; two sisters-in-law, Celia Haynes, of Montgomery, Alabama, and Sarah Collins, of Detroit, Michigan; three great grandchildren, De'Antre Jackson Jr., Zyler Jenkins and Dejarion Jenkins Jr.; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.