Mae Bell Pulley, 97, of Centralia passed away Sunday, December 26, 2021. She was born on September 1, 1924, the daughter of Booker and Emma (Jones) McGee in Sunflower City, Mississippi. She married Rufus Pulley on October 1, 1946, in Salem and he preceded her in death on July 25, 1999.
She leaves to cherish her memory, two sons, Robert of Chicago, Illinois, and Kerry of New York; two daughters, Mamie of Chicago Heights, Illinois and Karen (Randy) of Louisville, Kentucky; seven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild, one sister-in-law, Blanche Thornhill of Queens, New York; one brother-in-law, Bobby Pulley of
Chicago, Illinois; and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Along with her devoted husband of 52 years, Rufus Pulley, Mae Bell was preceded in death by her parents, Booker and Emma McGee; one son, Larry; two daughters, Christine, Sharon Kay; three brothers, Booker McGee, Jr., L.M. McGee, and Charles McGee; and three sisters, Anne Skinner, Lena Bell McGee, and Emma Webster. May she rejoice in the arms of our heavenly Father and reunite with her loved ones.
Mae Bell was a faithful member of New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church since 1948 where she shared her love of her Lord and Savior Jesus. She was a long-time member of the Building Fund Club and served on the Mother’s Board. She served faithfully in her church until ill health prevented her from doing so. Before her retirement, Mae Bell was a loyal employee and a wonderful cook for all the grateful staff and students of Head Start in Centralia.
A celebration of life service will be held at 12:00 p.m. Monday, January 3, 2022, at the New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Centralia with Reverend Ron Johnson officiating. Interment will follow at Elmwood Cemetery in Centralia. Friends are welcome to a visitation time from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service on Monday at the church. Memorials may be made in Mae Bell’s honor to New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church and will be accepted for the family at the funeral home. Online condolences and memories of Mae Bell may be shared with the family by visiting www.maczfuneralhomes.com and/or on the funeral home’s Facebook page.
