Mary Louise Boseman

Mary Lou Boseman passed away on Monday, January 4, 2016. She was born August 2, 1918 in Seaboard, North Carolina to the late Andrew Jackson (Jay) and Blannie Mable Blythe Britton. She grew up in Conway, North Carolina, attended East Carolina Teachers College, the Womans College at Greensboro and Elizabeth Arden Cosmetic School in New York City. She worked in the cosmetics department of Bissettes Drugs in Wilson and at Hicks Drugs in Rocky Mount. She was always proud of the fact that Ava Gardner came in to ask her how to make her eyelashes grow longer. She married the late Robert (Bob) Ricks Boseman on January 11, 1943 and became a dairy farmers wife, a mother, a grandmother and a great grandmother. She was the owner of the Merle Norman Cosmetics Studio in Rocky Mount, North Carolina from the early 1960s until 1995, where she lived out her passion of helping women learn to express their inner beauty. Her family will always remember her love of cooking and sharing food and love with them and with others. Mary Lou lived a long and healthy life and proved herself a gracious and charming lady who will be missed by many. She is survived by her two children: Carol Boseman Taylor and husband Chuck of Rocky Mount, North Carolina and Robert Ricks Boseman, Jr. and wife Mimi of Virginia Beach, Virginia; by her five granddaughters, Mary Blythe Taylor of Rocky Mount, NC, Brennen Boseman Seed (Ben) of Portland, OR, Anna Taylor Freeman (Taylor) of Raleigh, NC, Jenna Ross Boseman (Scott Bullock) of Virginia Beach, VA and Erin Taylor Rice (Erik) of Grand Rapids, MI. She is also survived by six great grandchildren, Isabella Freeman, Lola Seed, Anna Ricks Freeman, Lucy Freeman, Arlo Seed and Banks Rice. She is further survived by her sister-in-law, Molly Boseman Bailey and two nephews, Jim Bailey (Karen) and Phil Bailey (Sarah) all of Charlotte, NC. A service to honor her life will be held on Friday, January 8, 2016 at 11:00 am at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 301 S. Circle Drive, Rocky Mount, NC. The family will receive guests immediately following the service in the Commons Area of the church. Instead of flowers, gifts may be made to the All Saints Fund, St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 301 S. Circle Drive, Rocky Mount, NC 27804. Arrangements entrusted to Wheeler and Woodlief Funeral Home Cremation Services, 1130 N. Winstead Avenue, Rocky Mount, NC 27804. You may share memories and condolences with the family by visiting www.wheelerwoodlief.com.