Mary Varnado

The Life of Mary Irene Varnado

Mary Ann Irene (Kenion) Varnado 78, affectionately known as “Sister” “Aunt Rene” and “Aunt Sister”.  Mary was born August 19, 1942 in Calhoun, Ga.  She slipped away peacefully surrounded by her family on March 15, 2021, after an evening prayer. She was born to the late Mary Eliza Lay and Daniel Frasier Kenion. She was preceded in death by her loving husband Jay Lee Varnado; her fine and beautiful sister, Virginia Sales; and her loving parents Mary and Daniel Kenion.

 She was a licensed cosmetologist, a license she maintained and renewed her license every year because she said “ you always have to have something to fall back on in case you need them”. She became a respiratory therapist at Good Samaritan Hospital in the early 1972’s. She retired from there in 2004.

We believe our Mother’s life can be summed by the 3 Keys of Happiness.

Key (1) Something to do: Mary had a purpose. She was hardly ever still. She spent her life in service for others. She worked at the Senior Companion Program until July 2017. She was also a Senior Companion for  Grace Works, and she logged over 7,300 volunteer hours with this program. Volunteering, she continued to work with Seniors at the Home Instead program, until the decline of her health. Mary also volunteered in numerous activities at church. Which included assisting with the Easter basket giveaway. She was the driving force for the holiday baskets giving away, for the needy families. She also served as President of the Carillion civic counsel, representing the neighborhood for many years.

Key (2) Someone to Love: Mary loved her family and her children. She doted on her grandchildren and great-grandson. She loved traveling with her family and friends. She enjoyed attending numerous conferences and church homecomings. Because of someone to love is the reason she worked on the benevolence and bereavement committee. She drove the church van to numerous church activities in and out of state not only for her church but for other churches of Christ. She helped out at church whenever she could and would recruit others to help also.

Key (3) Something to look forward to: Mary enjoyed working for the Lord at church and in the community. She looked forward to receiving her heavenly reward. Mary manifested her love for the Lord, family and others by her actions, not just words. She had a giving heart and loving spirit. Her children nicknamed their family home, “Mary’s house of come stay a lot”. As through the years, she had many family and friends who lived with her. Her door was always open.

Mary leaves to mourn two brothers, Henry (Mary) Kenion Sr., Lexington Ky.; Michael Drake, North Carolina; sister, Angelia Drake Lexington Ky.; Her children; Ervin Kenion, Lydia Hogue, Eric Hogue, Johnetta Bailey-Ivory and Africa Banks; all of Dayton. Her grandchildren, Brittani Smith, Ericka Ivory, Alexandrea Hoskins; One great-grandson, Javion Wells; and a host of aunts’ cousins, nieces, nephews’ friends and church family at Bold Believers Church of Christ.

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