Athens –Funeral services for Vinnie Mayhall, 78, of Athens, Texas are scheduled for 2:00 P.M. Wednesday, April 1, 2015 at the Hannigan Smith Funeral Home Chapel in Athens. Interment will follow at Oaklawn Memorial Park in Athens.

Mrs. Mayhall joyfully departed her earthly body to spend eternity with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on Saturday, March 28, 2015, while an inpatient at the Hospice of East Texas facility in Tyler.

Vinnie Mae Brunson Mayhall was born January 25, 1937 in Odds, Texas the daughter of Gordon Green and Rosie Del Chane Brunson. She was raised in Marlin, Texas where she attended and graduated from Marlin High School. She resided there until she and her parents moved to Dallas. It was there she met her one true love, Freddie Franklin Mayhall of Irving, Texas. Mother of three, Vinnie was a stay at home wife and mother until the youngest was in High School. Her hobbies included cooking, crafting, sewing, bowling, white elephant bingo with her friends; dominoes and just prior to her stroke, researching and writing for what she hoped would be a western trilogy. She did have jobs while staying at home, which included Avon, Tupperware and House of Lloyd. Jobs outside of the home included lunchroom worker at Nimitz High School in Irving, clerical work at the drawing board in Dallas, waitress at the sale barn in Athens and line work at Curtis Mathis which continued beyond the takeover of Harvey’s. Most Importantly, Vinnie gave her life to God and was baptized in her twenties. Her faith, passion and love for her Lord was evident in her demonstrated joy and compassion that was overflowing and spilling out onto everyone she met. Freddie and Vinnie met their goal and dream to retire to East Texas living. They moved to the northern Murchison area. Soon after, their children and grandchildren followed. Only a matter of years after the move, Vinnie had a massive stroke leaving her with right side paralysis and aphasia. The doctors said she shouldn’t be alive, let alone anything more than a vegetable. The stroke changed her life profoundly. Her new primary words were “no” and “Praise the Lord”. Her existing faith and joy were magnified, obvious and undeniable to all who knew her. She praised God and made sure everyone knew the credit due was His and His alone.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Nellie Nichols and two brothers, E.A. “Buddy” Brunson and Allen Brunson.
She is survived by her husband of nearly 57 years Freddie Mayhall Sr. of Athens; her children, Terry Mayhall and wife Danna of Athens, Doronda Sell Hearn and husband John of Athens, Freddie Mayhall Jr.; three sisters, Johnnie Hounsel of Kosse, Texas, Jimmie Townsend and husband Lorance of Blue Springs, Missouri, Lily Mae Blann of Waco, Texas; sister in law Mary Jo Brunson of Weatherford; uncle Vernon “Chic” Brunson of Weatherford; eight grandchildren; seventeen great grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Vinnie made request years earlier, to be honored at this time. She wanted all of the world to know that in her husband, Freddie Mayhall, is the epitome of true love and servanthood. He has unselfishly served her, at times literally hand and foot, meeting her every need and desire. He has honored God, her love, and their wedding vows. She believed Fred was specifically ordained to be her soul mate. She had said, “Praise God, for He alone is the reason for Fred’s strength, endurance and love for me.

Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice and your joy no one will take from you. John 16:22

Visitation will be held from 6:00-8:00 P.M. Tuesday, March 31, 2015 at the Hannigan Smith Funeral Home in Athens, Texas.

Arrangements were entrusted to the Hannigan Smith Funeral Home of Athens.

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