Mary F. Pearsall, nee Mayes, 80, of Fairview Heights, IL, born Thursday, May 9, 1929, in East St Louis, IL, passed away Sunday, June 28, 2009 at her residence
Mrs. Pearsall was known by many names. Her friends, colleagues, and customers called her Mary. She was addressed, respectfully, as Officer by the temporarily detained. To her many students, she was Professor. For the babies in the family, she was Grandma. And for her immediate family and closest friends, she will always be "Toots". A licensed beautician, Toots closed her home-based beauty shop in 1972. She began working as a guard for the St. Clair County Sheriff's Department on Jan. 1, 1972 and was a Correction's Officer when she retired June10, 1994 as a lieutenant. While there, she earned college degrees in Criminal Justice and Education. Toots often turned her many interests and hobbies into classes that she would teach to the female inmates at the St. Clair County Jail. After retirement, she continued to teach at the Southwestern Illinois College (formerly Belleville Area College) Police Academy where she was instrumental in developing the Administration of Justice program. She was Director of Police Academy at Southwestern Illinois College from June 3, 1991 to June 1, 2002. She was a life long member of First Baptist Church in Fairview Heights, IL.
She is preceded in death by:
She is survived by:
The Lord is My Shepherd: I shall not want. He maketh me lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me besides the still waters. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: For thou art with me: thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil: My cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
We miss you now, our hearts are sore
As time goes by,
we miss you more.
Your loving smile,
your gentle face,
No one can fill your vacant place.
Memorials: In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Backstoppers or Linus Blankets.
Funeral: Memorial services will be held at 11:00 am Saturday, July 11, 2009 at First Baptist Church, 10401 Lincoln Trail, Fairview Heights, IL with Pastor Bryan Webb officiating. Toots donated her body to the Washington University School of Medicine.
