Mary Belle “Bunny” DiManno

LIZELLA – Mary Belle “Bunny” Mathis DiManno, 76, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, January 23, 2025, at her home. Funeral Services will be on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, at Watson-Hunt Funeral Home in Perry. Visitation will be from 1:00 until 2:00 p.m. and will be followed by the funeral at 2:00 p.m. At the family’s request and to honor Mary, we ask that everyone wear pink to the service. Interment will be on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. in Cat Creek Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery in Lowndes County. Contributions may be made in memory of Bunny to Liberty Faith Bible Church, P. O. Box 40, Norwood, Missouri 65717.

Mary Belle was born on December 5, 1948, in Valdosta, Georgia, the oldest of six children. A 1967 graduate of Perry High School, she subsequently attended Atlanta School of Art and Design where she earned a degree in Interior Design. And thus, her design career began. Mary Belle accepted a position with Douglas-Heaton Interiors and lived in Charleston, South Carolina, for many years while working in residential and commercial décor. During that period of her life, Mary was an energetic, single mom working three jobs. She occasionally took time for herself and enjoyed taking dance lessons at Arthur Murray’s Dance Studio where she met the love of her life, John. The couple soon married, and her position soon became Homemaker Extraordinaire. She spent many hours each day working to create a loving and encouraging environment for her family, with, of course, the perfect interior décor. While John’s job moved him around the country, “Bunny,” as she was known by most, was always excited to put her special touches on each new home, enjoyed freshening and nurturing their gardens and landscapes, and was delighted to cook in any kitchen. She was a very special lady who spread happiness everywhere she went. She loved people, wanted to know their hearts, was everyone’s biggest cheerleader, and was loved by so many. Bunny was soft-spoken, and when she finally said something, people knew that it was going to be valuable to the conversation. Like a surgeon, she knew how to get to the root of any problem. Her love for the Lord radiated. Bunny also earned an Associate’s Degree from Christ of the Nation Institute and was a member of Liberty Faith Bible Church in Norwood, Missouri.

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Bunny was preceded in death by her father, Harvey Griffin Mathis; and a brother-in-law, John Eldridge.

Left to cherish the memories they made with Bunny are her “beloved,” as she called him, faithful and devoted husband of forty-three years, John DiManno of Lizella; her mother, Melba Mathis of Perry; her children, Barry Chandler, Jr. of Newnan, and Blakeley Mayes of Dallas, Texas; six grandchildren; one great-grandson; her siblings, Ann Eldridge of Valdosta, Charles Mathis (Dawn) of Abilene, Texas, Jenice Mathis of Perry, Linda Ellis (Andy) of Monticello, Florida, and Billy Mathis (Sandra) of Jeffersonville; her sister-in-law, Teresa Brooks (Chuck) of Lawrenceville; her brother-in-law, Richard Panarelli of Massachusetts; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.

Condolences for the family may be left in the online guestbook at www.watsonhunt.com. Watson-Hunt Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.