Mary (Brower) Callison

SYLVANIA, GEORGIA

MARY CALLISON

Sylvania— Mary Ella Brower Callison, age 97, of Sylvania, Georgia, passed away at home, surrounded by family Wednesday morning, December 29, 2021. Mary was born on March 13, 1924, and was one of nine children born to Henry and Janie Brower.

Mary was a young adult when she and her younger sister, Carolyn, moved in with relatives in Savannah, Georgia, and began jobs at The Shipyard.

After returning home to Screven County, she never left. She met and married Jimpsey W. Callison, known to most as “Jake” and eventually had four children. The young couple loved hard work and looked for opportunities to secure their future. They bought acreage and began farming; they bought old houses and “fixed them up” for farm workers or other tenants and they owned and operated a grocery store called Callison’s Grocery. Back in the day, a grocery store was a lot like a small department store. Folks within a short distance would walk to the store and buy clothes, shoes, meats, groceries, two-for-a-penny cookies, candy, kerosene for lighting lanterns and stoves and gasoline for those who drove cars.

Mrs. Callison loved the grocery store and her customers loved her. She was known to those who shopped there as “Miss Mary”. She never met a stranger and had a contagious smile.

In addition to her parents and husband, Mary was preceded in death by her son, Timothy Allen Callison in March 2021; brothers, Leslie Brower, Lee Holmes Brower and Edward Brower; sisters, Lucille B. Taylor and Carolyn B. Johnson, who preceded her by just nineteen days, December 10, 2021; brothers-in-law, Albert Taylor, J. D. Johnson, and Fred Overstreet and one sister-in-law, Sadie T. Brower.

Survivors include one son and daughter-in-law, Jerry J. And Pam D. Callison; daughters and son-in-laws, Jan C. and Kenny E. Austin and Melanie C. Loyd, Jim Loyd; daughter- in-law, Tammy H. Callison; eight grandchildren, Amy C. and Mike Dixon, Jennifer and Tim Fraley, Ken Austin, Whitney W. Austin, Cindi A. and Kevin Allison, Timothy Callison, Candace C. and Matthew McQuaig, Jake and Grayson Loyd; and several great grandchildren.

She is also survived by one brother, Jack A. and Judy Brower; two sisters, Exodyne B. and Frank Johnson and Ruth B. and Don Bazemore; one sister-in-law, Rebena L. Brower; a brother- in- law, Franklin C. Callison and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, December 31, 2021, followed by the funeral service at 11:00 a.m. Both will be held in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church, Sylvania, Georgia. Her pastor, Dr. Charles Cooper will officiate. Interment will follow immediately after the service at Screven County Memorial Cemetery.

Pallbearers: Franklin Cail Callison, Tyler Dixon, Ken Austin, Ethan Allison, Timothy Callison, Jake Loyd, Grayson Loyd, Jimmy Johnson and Russell Brower.

The Callison family wishes to express special thanks to all those who returned Mrs. Callison’s smile and all those who cared for her physical needs.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Baptist Church of Sylvania, Music Fund.

Thompson-Strickland-Waters Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.