Mary Lou Fields Counts Wise

Mary Lou Fields Counts Wise, 92 of Bristol Virginia went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, March 30, 2011 in Johnston Memorial Hospital in Abingdon after a long illness. She was a resident of Grace Health Care Center, in Abingdon Virginia. She was a native of Southwestern Virginia and a long term resident of the Bristol area. She was a devoted mother and home maker. Mrs. Wise was a member of First Assembly of God Church of Bristol, VA. She is preceded in death by her husband, James Robert Wise. She is also preceded in death by her first husband, Fred Dallas Counts, also the father of her five children. She is also preceded in death by her eldest son, Edward Dallas Counts.

Mrs. Wise is survived by 4 children, Betty L. Gilreath and her husband, Donald R. Gilreath of Chuckey, Tennessee, Robert N. Counts and his wife Judy, from Bloomington, Illinois, Rena Counts Hayford and her husband, James K. Hayford of Ridgway, Colorado, and Rev. Dr. King Allen Counts and his wife Angela E. Counts of Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Wise is also survived by two younger brothers, Robert Fields of Richmond, Virginia, and David Fields of Atlanta, Georgia.

Mrs. Wise is survived by five grandchildren. Sharron O'Neal Buckingham and her husband, Mark of Franklin, Tennessee, Denice O'Neal Sheehan of Lexington, S.C., Elizabeth Counts Moffitt and her husband Ben, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Adam T. Counts and his wife, Christy, of Maryville, Tennessee, Ssgt. Aaron S. Counts and his wife, Jillian of Holly Ridge, N.C.

Mrs. Wise has eight great- grandchildren: Amber Christine Fagan and her husband, Billy, of Johnson City, Tennessee, Shannon Brooke Stevens of Bluff City, Tennessee, Brandon Michael Sheehan, Chase Sheehan, and Gracie Denice Sheehan of Lexington, S.C., Emma Grace Moffitt of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Logan A. Counts of Maryville, Tennessee, and Helena Grace Turturro of Holly Ridge, N.C.

Mrs. Wise's Great-Great Grandchildren are Jeremy Fagan, Cole Fagan and Bella Christine Fagan of Johnson City, Tennessee.

The family will receive friends from 1:00 P.M. until 2:30 P.M. Friday, April 1, 2011 at the Forest Hills Chapel of Farris Funeral Service, 19415 Lee Highway, Abingdon, VA 24210. Funeral services will be conducted at 2:30 P.M. with Pastor Jeff Carico officiating. Interment will follow in Forest Hills Memory Gardens.

The family encourages donations in loving memory of Mary Wise to the Alzheimer's Association, 207 N. Boone St., Suite 1050, Johnson City, TN 37604.