Mary Lu Gadberry

Mary Lu Gadberry, nee Stovall made her grand entrance into Glory on March 24, 2026. She was born to WT and Lucille Stovall on December 12, 1943 and was a “surprise” late life addition to their family and was absolutely adored by her older sister Hazel.

She grew up in Fort Worth, Texas and graduated Carter Riverside High School in 1962. She began her musical ministry at the age of 14 when she began serving as the church pianist at Riverside Evangelistic Temple in Fort Worth, where she served for over 25 years. She blessed many lives over those years and was best known there for her beautiful renditions of One Day at a Time and The King is Coming. It was at church that she met the love of her life, Jesse Gadberry and they married on September 29, 1961. Their life of almost 60 years together brought them 2 daughters, Delynn and Lisa as well as 6 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. Together with her husband Jess, they had a gospel quartet and ministered mostly in their local church, but also many churches around the Fort Worth area.

She overcame more adversity in her lifetime than one could possibly imagine, including being an ovarian cancer survivor for almost 20 years. She was the strongest woman we have ever known.

She truly was a self-made woman and often said she earned her “degree” at The School of Hard Knocks. She taught herself many computer skills and was the administrative assistant to the Vice President of Human Resources for Citi Group in Irving Texas for over 20 years.

She and Jess loved to travel making many visits to tropical places – Hawaii being their favorite spot on Earth. They shared this love of the beach with their grandchildren taking them on many beach adventures over the years.

She loved her husband and family with every fiber of her being, she loved her friends with all of her heart and most of all she loved her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Her greatest legacy is the faith she passed on to her daughters and grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husband and great granddaughter, Lila.

Left behind to remember her with love and laughter are her daughters, Delynn Culp (Greg) of Glen Rose, Texas and Lisa Coday (Tim) of Ashland, Missouri; grandchildren Rebekah York (Spencer) of Springfield, Missouri; Miriam Stevens (Jason) of Cleburne, Texas; Justin Hickerson of Rocheport, Missouri; Patrick Hickerson (Michelle) of Millersburg, Missouri; Collin Hickerson of Columbia, Missouri and David Culp (Ellie) of Weatherford, Texas; Great Grandchildren Madelynn, Mason and McKinley Stevens of Cleburne, Texas; Eli Culp of Weatherford, Texas and Jackson and Emmalyn Hickerson of Millersburg, Missouri; and her sister Hazel Wood of Brownwood, Texas as well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews and many friends.

Services to honor and remember Mary Lu will be held on Friday, April 10, 2026 at Forest Ridge Funeral Home in North Richland Hills, Texas with visitation at 10:00 AM and a memorial following at 11:00 AM. Internment at The National Cemetery to follow at 2:00 PM.