Martha Mercedes Douglas, age 90, formerly of Dandridge passed away peacefully in her sleep Thursday, February 2, 2023. Mercedes grew up in the Piedmont community and graduated from Maury High School in 1950. She married her high school sweetheart Floyd C. Douglas and had two sons, Gavid and Don. Last November, she and Floyd celebrated 71 years of marriage. He calls her his “pride and joy.”

Mercedes loved her church, Piedmont Baptist and served in many capacities such as Sunday School teacher, WMU Director, VBS teacher and a member of the choir. Mercedes worked as a beautician when her children were small but gave that up in favor of raising her sons and serving within her community alongside her husband.  She held various positions such as PTA President, Republican Women’s Secretary, and was a Notary Public. She was Auxiliary Chaplain for many years in Gideons  Auxiliary and assisted in Bible Distributions. She especially enjoyed giving Bibles to the graduating classes of nurses at Carson Newman University.

In her later years, Mercedes devoted herself to her mother and other elderly family members. She thoroughly enjoyed traveling and, on many occasions, drove the church van to provide the opportunity for church friends to visit Myrtle Beach and other areas of interest. She fearlessly drove anything with a steering wheel!  If you knew her personally, you would also know what a soft heart she had toward the rescue and care of animals, particularly cats. 

Mercedes was preceded in death by her parents, Cecil and Nettie French and her son, Gavid.  She is survived by her son, Donald (Teresa) Douglas, grand-children Brian (Alison) Douglas, Derek (Maureen) Douglas and Lindsay Douglas. Great-grandchildren are Gabriel Douglas and Cailin Douglas. 

Family and friends are invited to gather at Piedmont Baptist Church, 1226 W Dumplin Valley Rd, Dandridge, TN 37725 on Monday, February 6. Visitation is from 1:00-2:00 with a memorial service at 2:00.  Burial is immediately following at Piedmont Cemetery. Living memorials in Mercedes’s honor may be made to The Gideons International, Jefferson County Camp, P.O. Box 1245, Dandridge, TN 37725.

Arrangements by Farrar Funeral Home, Dandridge, TN.