A celebration of the life and home going of Mrs. Mary H. Faulkner, 79, of Marshall, Texas will be at 10:00 am, Saturday at Downs Funeral Home in Marshall, with Dr. Wallace Watkins, pastor of Central Baptist Church officiating. Burial will follow in the Panola Mt. Zion Cemetery. Family visitation will be 6-8pm Friday night at Downs Funeral Home. Mrs. Faulkner went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on October 21, 2013 in Tyler, Texas. Mary Helen Bailey Faulkner was born March 2, 1934 in Carthage, Texas as the only child of James and Mabel Bailey. She graduated from Carthage High School and Panola Junior College, where she was Miss PJC in 1952. She married Clifton Gay Faulkner in 1955 and they had three sons - Greg, Kevin, and Kent Faulkner. Mary was a dedicated wife and homemaker for many years and then later worked at the Harrison County Courthouse in Marshall as a Deputy Clerk for 18 years until retiring in 2001. She was an active member of Central Baptist Church for over 45 years. Her life was dedicated to serving God and enjoying relationships with family and friends. She loved her sunday school class at Central and volunteered for a number of ministries over the years including "Meals on Wheels", clothes closet, the prayer ministry, and the senior adult WOO group. Mary was well known for her delicious pound cakes of various flavors which were used to bless others. She was a freedom-loving patriot who loved her country and state and proudly shared her birthday with Texas Independence Day. As an avid sports fan, she loved cheering for her favorite Texas teams (Longhorns, Cowboys, and Rangers). Her faith in Christ, strong spirit, family values, and fun-loving attitude have left an enduring legacy and life message. Mrs. Faulkner is survived by her three sons and their families (including eight beloved grandchildren): Greg and Kelly Faulkner and their son Hunter of Dallas; Kevin and Amy Faulkner and their three girls Lindsay, Lauren, and Hannah of Danville, Kentucky; and Kent and Jani' Faulkner and their four children, Andrew, Daniel, Rebecca, and Rachel all of Tyler. She is also survived by a cherished extended family including first cousins, Luther, Jimmy, Joe Lynn, and Norma Lawless, Chester Studdard, Betty Prior, Royce and Jerry Davidson, Gene Oden, Toby Monday, Gloria Creel, Brenda Deblance, Rita Payne, Angela Brackhahn, George Satterwhite Jr, Linda Gail Mattox, and Walter Bailey Jr, and step-siblings Janice Graves, Ginger Walker, and Steve Malone. She leaves behind many other relatives and a host of friends. Pallbearers on Saturday will be members of deacon body at Central Baptist Church. The family suggests any memorials be directed to CrossVision International Missions. To donate in her memory, go to www.crossvisionmissions.org.