Our Beloved Mary Jane Gentry Larson, 92, of Charlottesville peacefully returned home to Heaven on Friday, September 6, 2024.

She was born on March 8, 1932, to the late Granville Gentry and Mary Bealey Shifflett Gentry. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband Orrin Larson and her siblings: Olla May, Fannie, Melvin, Francis, Amanda, Granville, Robert, and Edward and daughter in-law Kathy Wood Hall.

She is survived by four generations of her family, her sons; Steven Hall and Jeffrey Hall and their

families:

Steven’s children: Sarah Hall (Ed DeMasters) their children Allyssa, Sydney, Gage, Bryce, and Damon; Steven Hall, his daughter Kayden, Seth Hall (Ali) and daughters Madelyn and Kate, Brandi Sites (Dewey) and their children Makayla, Taylor, and Drake.

Jeffrey’s children: Morgan Davison (Jeffrey) and their children Sterling and Presley; and Austin and his fur-baby Moose.

She is also survived by her brother, Nelson Gentry, her great-great-grandson Zakery, two daughter In-laws Laura Hall and Karen Hall, and by her beloved cat, Tater-Tot along with many friends, and extended family.

Mary started life in a family of modest means on King Street, she worked her whole life to build a better future for herself and her family. She took night classes to learn a new trade while working full time and soon after opened her own upholstery and drapery business. She was gifted and defied the odds for women at the time, and found great success.

Mary loved to cook. From plate sized pancakes and sausage gravy to her delicious homemade buttermilk biscuits, we never left her home hungry.

She spent many devoted hours with her grandchildren and great grandchildren and cared for them during the summers and after school. She taught them to sew, upholster, crafts, and how to cook.

Mary loved to garden. She grew the most beautiful flowers and her rose garden was by far her favorite. She also grew a large vegetable garden each year and enjoyed canning. Every Christmas the family could count on an addition of homemade jelly and peanut butter balls made from scratch.

She was a hard worker and successful in her career, she was also an extremely caring person and tireless in serving others. She often took in those that needed a meal or place to stay, and regularly maintained a guest room for just such occasions.

After retirement she could be found almost always quilting in her shop. The family has many of her works of art to cherish, but true to form she felt the need to use her time and talents to help others.

Many of her quilts she donated for charity raffles or those in need, in particular through the Lions club and the Cancer Society.

Above all she will be remembered for her rambunctious sense of humor, spirited banter, contagious laugh, and warm hugs.

She was strong in her faith, was a lifelong member of Cherry Avenue Christian Church, and will be remembered and missed by all.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Hospice of the Piedmont at hopva.org, Alzheimer’s foundation at alzfdn.org or The American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org.

For more on services and to share your condolences, visit Hill and Wood Funeral Service.