COLERAIN – Mary Ann Byrd Cowan Garner, age 76, passed away on April 1, 2017, after a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s Disease and Dementia.

She was born to the late Hiliary Luther and Annie Mae Baker Byrd on July 18, 1941 in the Wakelon community of Bertie County, NC. Mary Ann graduated from Colerain High School and Obici School of Nursing. She was very career­ oriented and worked at hospitals in Ahoskie, Greenville, Wilmington, and Portsmouth, VA. Mary Ann worked in the Emergency Department and ICU, as well as serving on the cardiology and medical – surgical units. She ended her career as a home health nurse. She often went beyond the call of duty to help her home health patients get to appointments or get other services that she provided on her own time.

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her newborn daughter, Patricia Ann Cowan; and her first husband, Eddie Cowan. Mary Ann was also predeceased by her siblings, infant brother Shelton R. Byrd; brother Jarvis A. Byrd; sisters Ellen B. Walton and Julia B. Hare; and one nephew. She was recently post-deceased by her second husband Eddie Garner.

Survivors include her sons, Neil Cowan and Chris Cowan; five grandchildren; a great-granddaughter; her oldest sister Iris Rochelle; two step-children; two nieces and three nephews.

A belated memorial service will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 28, 2017 at Wakelon P. H. Church on Perrys School Road in Bertie County. Family and friends are welcome to attend.

Garrett-Sykes Funeral Service assisted the family.