Thomasville, GA - Mary Belle Herring Waddell was born October 30, 1946, to the late Ernest Higdon Herring and Grace Jewel Gainey Herring in Calvary, Georgia along with her twin sister Martha. Mary passed at home on August 19, 2025. The funeral services will be at First Baptist Church in Thomasville, GA on Monday, August 25th with visitation at 10:00 AM and the service to follow at 11:00 AM.

Mary graduated from Cairo High School in 1964 and completed her Bachelor's degree in education from Georgia Southern College in Statesboro, GA in 1968, and continued to earn her Master's degree in education with her primary focus in mathematics. Mary shared her love of mathematics by teaching for forty years in the counties of Mitchell, Dodge, Grady, Walton, and Thomas.

Mary married Dennis Cain in 1969, and they raised two daughters, Catherine and Martha. Although Mary and Dennis divorced, Mary later met and married Kenneth Waddell in 2003 and they enjoyed 22 years of marriage together.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents and her brother John Patrick Herring. Mary is survived by her husband Kenneth Waddell, her daughters Catherine DeZemplen (Rick) and Martha Glose (Terry) as well as her grandchildren Matthew DeZemplen (Carolina), Trent DeZemplen, and Kayla Bruce, and her great-grandson Lucas Alejandro DeZemplen. Mary's sister, Martha Stubbs (Ron), also remains as well as her nephew, Charles Stubbs (Joy), niece, Mary Grace Stubbs Sanders (Rob), and Mary's stepdaughters and their children and grandchildren.

As a mother, grandmother, wife, and sister Mary was selfless, resilient, caring, inspirational and nurturing. She deeply loved Catherine, Martha, Matt, Trent, and Kayla and was quick to brag about her great grandson, Lucas. Her eyes would light up when she spoke of her family including her husband Ken, her sons-in-law, Rick, and Terry, as well as Ken's children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

During the past thirty-four years of declining health, Mary showed a thriving inner spirit to keep moving forward and enjoy each day of her life with perseverance and determination. She expressed specific appreciation for her caregivers such as Jennifer, Cindy, Mike, and Jon as well as her dear friends in her Sunday school class at church.

Mary and her husband, Ken, lived with her daughter and son-in-law, Martha & Terry Glose, over the past several years as their health has been declining. In lieu of flowers the family suggests contributions be made to Leukemia and Lymphoma Society or the charity of your choice.

[mdash] Willis-Jamerson-Braswell Funeral Home