Mary G. Talbert passed away peacefully on December 2nd at Summit Square in Waynesboro, Virginia, with her family at her side.  She is survived by her husband of 69 years, Dr. John R. Talbert.

Mary was blessed with five sons and four daughters-in-law, all surviving: John Marcus Talbert of Waynesboro, Va.;Dr. Louis Gregory Talbert (Renee') of Memphis, Tennessee; Robert Stuart Talbert (Denise) of Waynesboro, Virginia; James Andrew Talbert (Kimberley) of Pensacola, Fl. and William Allison Talbert (Beth) of Huntsville, Alabama.

She leaves behind six grandchildren:  Mary Elizabeth Volz (Ben) of Colorado Springs, CO; Jonathan Louis Talbert of Woodville, TX; Lee Gregory Talbert (Zaira) of Memphis, TN; William Riley Talbert of Montgomery, AL; Daisy Caroline Talbert of Pensacola, FL and Caleb Logan Talbert of Pensacola, FL. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews, and several great nieces and nephews.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents:  Dr. James Henry Gregory Grimaud and Mary Stuart Smyth Grimaud; and her three brothers:  James Henry Gregory Grimaud and wife, Arlene of Danville, Pa; Robert Smyth Grimaud of Kalamazoo, Mich.; and John Edward Grimaud of Seabrook, Texas, whose wife, Gretchen Messick Grimaud survives him.

Mary was born in Hannibal, Missouri on November 16, 1931, where she spent the first fourteen years of her life.  Following the untimely death of her father,   Mary's mother brought her children to her family home in Washington County, Virginia.  It was there that Mary learned about the rural life and finished her high school education, graduating as Salutatorian.  It was there also that she made many lifelong friends and met her future husband, Dr. John R. Talbert.

Mary's further education included two years at Mary Washington College, which had been her childhood dream.  Because of financial difficulties, she completed her college years at Emory and Henry College as a day student, earning a degree in Economics & Accounting, and a scholarship for post-graduate studies  at Indiana University.  Mary was academically gifted and wherever she went she was always near the top of her class.

Following college she married Dr. John R. Talbert.  They had five sons whom she mothered with love and affection, as she guided  them to adulthood by her example. While her husband completed his medical training, Mary worked  at UVA hospital, teaching pre-school, and Dept. of HEW office in Charlottesville.  When they moved to Waynesboro in 1964, she acted as the medical office accountant during the early years of her husband's medical practice.

Mary loved Waynesboro; and was an active member of the community, serving for many years as a member of the School Board and volunteering in many civic clubs and associations including Hoe and Hope Garden Club, Waynesboro Women's Club and D.A.R.  A long-time member of First Baptist Church, Mary served on the Diaconate, sang in the Church choir, and was very active in the Women's Missionary Society (the Baptist WMU), and enjoyed teaching Sunday School.  Her love of musical theatre, tennis, bridge groups and her piano also occupied much of her spare time.

Mary lived a long and useful life.  She was a beautiful, generous person to those who knew her, and she will be missed greatly by all of us.  She now leaves her life here on earth to be welcomed to her heavenly home and to join her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

A funeral service will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 20, 2022 at First Baptist Church in Waynesboro.  A reception will follow, after which interment will take place in Riverview Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the First Baptist Church for the benefit of the Chancel Choir.