Mary Margaret Perkins

Mary Margaret Perkins, a lifelong native of Bay Saint Louis, died unexpectedly on Friday, August 23, 2024 at the age of 75.

Mary was born January 3, 1949, to Rufus Terrell and Vivian Eggloff Perkins at King's Daughter Hospital in Bay St. Louis. She was a graduate of Bay High School, class of 1966.

A civic minded leader, Mary took great pride in her community exhibited through a lifetime of devoted and loyal service. Shortly after completing high school, Mary began a newspaper, The Coast Chronicle. Continuing in the public relations/marketing arena, she later worked at the Sea Coast Echo Newspaper, Hancock General Hospital, and finally to the Hancock County Library system where she retired in 2018 after 25 years of dedicated service. In 1995, along with then library executive director Prima Plauche, Mary was instrumental in the development of the Library Foundation of Hancock County. She remained committed to the foundation, helping to grow it into a well established supporter of our libraries that it is today. In honor and appreciation of her dedication and commitment to the foundation, the Mary Perkins Summer Program fund was established in 2023. In addition, she also was recently recognized as the longest serving member of the Hancock County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

Recognizing Mary's grit and dogged determination in given situations, it was often simply described as "that's Mary."

Mary is survived by her sister, Ann Perkins Heitzmann (Gary); nephew, Brett Heitzmann of Baton Rouge, LA; niece, Lindy Heitzmann Waller (Hays); and great-nephews, Jacob, Grady, Mason Waller, all of Mobile, AL.

Family will receive visitors at Edmond Fahey Funeral Home, Bay St. Louis, MS, on Saturday, August 31, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. and concluding with a prayer service at 11:00 a.m. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in memory of Mary to the Library Foundation of Hancock County's Mary Perkins Summer Program fund, or to The King's Kitchen, Bay St. Louis.

Edmond Fahey Funeral Home is honored to serve the family and friends of Mary Perkins.