April 4, 1943 – Dec. 17, 2012

NATCHEZ — Services for Mary L. Winston, 69, of Natchez, who died Monday, Dec. 17, 2012, at River Region Hospital in Vicksburg, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Zion Flower Baptist Church.

Arrangements are under the direction of Bateaste Memorial Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Mrs. Winston was born April 4, 1943, the daughter of Mary Lee McKnight and stepfather, James McKnight. She was baptized and accepted Christ at Zion Flower Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Rev. A.L. Butler in 1959, and was presently serving under the leadership of the Rev. Ernest Ford Jr. She was a faithful member of the Usher Board until her health declined.

Mary was united in holy matrimony to Allen Winston for 52 years and to that union five children were born.

She was preceded in death by her mother and stepfather.

Survivors include two daughters, Shirley Winston of Natchez and Deloris Atkins and husband, Herman, of Seattle, Wash.; three sons, Roy Winston of Natchez, Ricky Winston and Allen Winston Jr., both of Seattle; two special daughters, Debra Colston of Natchez and Lakeshia Wade of Fayette; one stepson, Willie Jackson and wife, Carol, of New Orleans; a special son, Lee Donaldson of Memphis, Tenn.; three sisters, Alice Davis of Chicago, Emma Bassett of Gonzalez, La., and Alma Myles of Natchez; 15 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and a number of nieces, nephews, family and friends.