Mary Frances Harris Conner

Mary Frances Harris Conner of South Boston passed away on January 21, 2026 at the age of 75. Mary was born in Henry County on August 19, 1950, to John Dewey Harris, Sr. and Cornelia Foster Minter Harris.

While Mary’s formative years were spent in Collinsville, VA, she moved to South Boston in 1970 and built a life and family that she was proud of. Mary embodied the phrase “what you leave as a legacy is not what is etched in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.” Her fingerprints and impact are all over the lives of her friends and family and the lessons and values she instilled will live on.

By day, Mary worked hard for over 30 years at Presto Products where she made lifelong friends that were a very important part of her life. Mary worked equally hard outside of work where she could be found on a field, court, classroom, or auditorium supporting her sons. There was no sacrifice for them that she wasn’t willing to make. She wanted to make sure they had every opportunity available and never complained that it got in the way of her life – that was her life. She provided a great example of what hard work and sacrifice for others looks like. She also instilled that something being tough couldn’t be an excuse – when things got hard “you do what you gotta do”.

Later in life, that same level of support carried over to her grandchildren. She enjoyed spending time with them and it was fun to watch her finally relax and just enjoy being a grandparent. She loved baking and sending the grandkids home with dessert on visits – the only rule she had was “bring the plate back and you can get a refill!” Even at the end, when it was unlikely that she would be able to fix more cakes, she didn’t want to give the recipe away as a substitute – she simply said bring the plate back. We all have empty plates now that will be hard to fill without her but we can all enjoy the times we had together.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents and her daughter Amy Suzanne Conner.  She is survived by her sons, Joseph Hagood Conner III (Tiffany), Kevin Dwayne Conner (Erica), and Ryan Gregory Conner (Raquel). She also leaves behind nine grandchildren, Joseph Hagood Conner IV, Wesley Jacob Conner, Spencer Logan Conner, Gracie Lyn Conner, Madison Renee Williams, Rally Reynolds Wilson Williams, Oakley Gaines Budweiser Williams, Mila Marie Conner, and Theodore Harrison Conner.  She is also survived by her brothers, John Dewey Harris, Jr. (Cathy) and David Wayne Harris.

A graveside service will be held on February 3, 2026 at 2:00 P.M. at Roselawn Cemetery in Martinsville, VA.  The family will receive friends on Monday, February 2 from 7:00 until 8:30 P.M. at Powell Funeral Home.

Online condolences may be directed to www.powellfuneralinc.com or by visiting their Facebook page.

Arrangements for Mary Frances Harris Conner have been entrusted to Powell Funeral Home, 1603 Wilborn Ave., South Boston