CARY — Mary Zulene Ryals Harris, 96, died peacefully in her sleep on March 14, 2018.

Funeral services will be at Goodman Memorial United Methodist Church in Cary on March 17, at 2 p.m. with interment following at Cary Cemetery.

Visitation is Friday evening, March 16, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Glenwood Funeral Home in Rolling Fork.

Zulene was born in Greenville on Dec. 13, 1921, the eldest of six children born to Philip Morgan Ryals and Sarah Frances Woods Ryals.

Zulene grew up in Murphy and graduated from the Hollandale school system in 1939.

She received her bachelor’s degree in physical education and business administration from Delta State College. Following graduation, Zulene was employed by the Leland school system, where she coached the girls’ tennis team to the state finals. After marrying the late Thomas Harris in 1946, the couple made their home in Cary.

Zulene was integrally involved in the family farming business and in 1953, she joined the faculty at Cary High School and later she joined the faculty at the Fielding L. Wright Attendance Center in Rolling Fork.

Zulene’s life was forever changed following the sudden and tragic death of her beloved husband in 1974.  She spent the remainder of her life devoted to her family and friends, welcoming all to her home for many occasions, especially holidays. She was a devoted member of Goodman Memorial United Methodist Church.

Zulene was predeceased by her husband; her parents; a brother; and two sisters.

She is survived by sisters, Phyllis McDaniel of Starkville and Martha Matlock of Oxford. She is also survived by her children, Donald Harris (Sally) of Cary; daughters, Phyllis Adams of Cary and Kathy Markby (Julian) of Greenwich, Conn. She is survived by grandchildren, Thomas Harris II (Madelyn) of Jackson, James Dunavant (Courtney) of Dallas, Texas, Eloise May (Walter) of Kennesaw, Ga., Suzanne Crell (Charley) of Madison, Caroline Adams of Madrid, Spain, Spencer Markby of Los Angeles, Calif., and Harris Markby of Boulder, Colo. Zulene is also survived by seven great-grandchildren, Ryals, Thacker and Brown Harris, Knox and River Dunavant, Ella May and Caroline Crell.

Memorials may be made to the Cary Cemetery or to a charity of your choice.