Mary “Esther” McCrary DeLoney, age 100, of Dothan, Alabama, passed away on July 10, 2026, in Dothan, Alabama. She was born on September 28, 1925, in Florida, and lived a long, full life marked by devotion to her family, her church, and the many people who were blessed by her kindness.
A Celebration of Life service honoring Mrs. DeLoney will be held at 3 P.M. Sunday, July 19, 2026 at Ward Wilson Funeral Home.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 2 to 3 P.M. Sunday, one hour prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Esther’s memory to Ridgecrest Baptist Church.
Esther was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother whose gentle spirit and steady presence brought comfort and joy to those around her.
She and her husband were charter members of Ridgecrest Baptist Church, where their faith was an important part of their lives. Esther was also a charter member of the Mother’s Club of Dothan, where she formed lasting friendships and contributed to her community in meaningful ways.
Esther especially enjoyed sewing and baking, and she became well known for her delicious cookies, Lane Cake and her delicious Pound Cakes, which her granddaughter, Rachel Hummel carries the Pound Cakes recipe on through Esther”s Pound Cake Company. She was an excellent baker of everything, and her kitchen was often a place of comfort, welcome, and sweet memories. The care she put into her sewing and baking reflected the same thoughtfulness she showed in every part of her life.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Roy and Odessa McCrary; her husband of 64 years, George Edward DeLoney; her brother, JJ McCrary; and her sister, Martha Cone.
She is survived by her children, Bill DeLoney and his wife Angela, Don DeLoney and his wife Kay, and Ange Thagard and her husband Les; her sisters, Inez Thomas; Johnnie Remsynder; her grandchildren, William David DeLoney and his wife Lisa, Cameron Wade DeLoney and his wife Kendall, Rachel Hummel and her husband Gordon, Nicholas DeLoney and his wife Jennifer, and Garrett DeLoney and his wife Ashley; her two step-grandchildren, Leah Tharpe and her husband Travis, and Jay Austin Solomon; her 14 great-grandchildren; and her two step-great-grandchildren. Each of them carries forward a part of her legacy through the love, values, and memories she gave so freely.
Esther’s life was one of devotion, faith, and quiet strength. She touched many lives with her kindness, her generosity, and her unwavering love for her family. She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered.
The family would like to extend a special thanks to the staff at Extendicare and Gentiva Hospice.
