Mary Talbert Rainwater, age 87, went to be with the Lord, Thursday, July 30, 2015. She was born December 24, 1927, in Berlin, Ala., to the late Allen Nathaniel Talbert and Maggie Dunagan Talbert.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Chester B. Rainwater Sr.; son, Acie Earl Rainwater; brother, Aubrey Allen Talbert; and sister, Alice Radford.

She is survived by her children, Patsy (Wayne) Deer, Patricia (Bill) Hatfield, Linda (Walter) Pierce, Chester Rainwater Jr. and Sheila (David) Thomas; 13 grandchildren, Clif Deer, Chris Deer, Luke Hatfield, Holly Strickland, Paul Pierce, David Lewis, Trey Rainwater, Kelly Johns, Nathan Rainwater, Blake Rainwater, Ben Thomas, Matthew Thomas and Mary Gail Thomas; 18 great-grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild. She is also survived by her sisters, Maggie Goff and Angela Smith; and brother, Wayne Chancey.

In her earlier years she worked as a switchboard operator for Southern Bell. She was a devoted wife and mother. After raising her children, she went back to school and received her GED in 1976. She was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the United Transportation Union for over 50 years. She was Christened at Alabama Avenue Presbyterian Church in Selma. She later united with Sisters Springs Baptist Church in Tyler.

Services will be Sunday, August 2, 2015, at 2 p.m. in the Chapel of Lawrence Brown-Service Funeral Home in Selma with the Rev. Jonathan S. Jenkins and grandson, Paul Pierce, officiating. Pallbearers will be her grandsons. Interment will follow in New Live Oak Cemetery.

Visitation will be held Saturday, August 1, 2015, from 6–8 p.m. at Lawrence Brown-Service Funeral Home. The family would like to extend their thanks to Homestead Hospice care team for their support & comfort.