UTICA — Mary LaBelle Weaver died Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2009, in Vicksburg. She was 86.

Mrs. Weaver was born and raised in Utica, where she lived and worked for most of her 86 years. She was a graduate of Utica High School. She married Sam Weaver and moved to Silas, Ala., and then later to Mobile, Ala. After World War II, they returned to Utica and established a private business. Mrs. Weaver was an active member of Utica Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Sam Weaver; three brothers, Jack Price, William Percy Price and S. Colbert Price Jr.; and a brother-in-law, Marshall Smith.

Survivors include two daughters, Sandra Fowler and husband Jack of Vicksburg and Diane Patterson and husband Burt of Ocean Springs; one sister, Josie Smith of Vicksburg; one brother, Don Price and wife Helen of Utica; two sisters-in-law, Pat Price and Corine Price; nine grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Mrs. Weaver will be remembered for many years of service at Utica Building and Supply and her involvement with church and friends. Two of her joys in life were music and basketball. If she wasn’t playing her saxophone in the “Has Beens,” she was performing with her daughter and granddaughter in church cantatas. You could always count on her attendance at local basketball games watching multiple generations of her family play. She had a special connection with the Duke Blue Devils and even fulfilled her dream later in life by seeing them play at Duke University in Durham, N.C.

Mrs. Weaver’s real love was her family. She was involved with her family, coaching, teaching, caring and loving. She was known by all as “Grandmother” and was truly the matriarch of the family.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Utica Baptist Church in Utica with Dr. Rocky Henriques officiating. Burial will follow at Utica Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 until 8 p.m. Thursday at Glenwood Funeral Home in Utica.

Pallbearers will be Chad Curtis, Lance McCarty, Slater McCarty, Eric Boling, Bill Fretz, Carlis Curtis, Frank Purviance and Michael Specks.

Honorary pallbearers will be Jerry Yates, A.H. McGuffee, Russell McGuffee, Murray Griffin, Sammy White, Roger Rials and Larry Boyd.