Obituary for Mary Kate Stovall-Tapley
Mary Kate Stovall-Tapley was born December 13, 1921 to the late Estella Billingsley Sanders and the late Tim
Sanders, Sr. in Uniontown, Perry County, Alabama. She departed this life on Thursday, April 25, 2024. She was
lovingly married to Turner Stovall and together they had two daughters, Kathleen and Audrey. After Turner’s
passing, she found love again and married Rayford Tapley. She was preceded in death by her parents, both
husbands, one sister, Ethel Lapsley and three brothers, Chester Sanders, Tim Sanders, Jr., and Fred Sanders.
At an early age, she accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior, joining Woodlawn Baptist Church in
Uniontown, AL. She remained there until her move to Hurtsboro, Al where she became a member of Ross
Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church. Mrs. Stovall-Tapley served as a Sunday school teacher and the Varick Christian
Endeavor (VCE) advisor, mentoring the youth, as was her passion. Mrs. Stovall-Tapley credits her daughter
Audrey, with helping her make the decision to become a Seventh-day Adventist. After much research and
study she made the move and joined Christ is the Answer SDA Church in Hurtboro, AL. She served as a faithful
member until her health declined, and subsequently her death.
She attended a one teacher school, known as Hinton Hall, which taught grades one through six. She was then
transferred to a boarding school, Lincoln Normal in Marion, Alabama. After graduating from Lincoln Normal
School, she attended summer school and taught during the winter months until she earned her Bachelors of
Science degree in Elementary Education from Alabama State College (now Alabama State University) in 1949
and 1955 respectively. She began teaching in the Perry County School System from 1943 until 1951 when she
accepted the position of teacher at the Russell County Training School, located in Hurtsboro, Alabama. She
became the librarian there and continued to further her education by receiving her Master’s Degree in Library
Science from Atlanta University in 1969. She retired from the Russell County School System in 1976 after
serving 25 years and entered the political arena.
In 1976, Mrs. Stovall-Tapley was elected as council woman and served two four-year terms. In 1984, she
became the first black female to be elected as Mayor of the Town of Hurtsboro, Alabama and consequently
also became the first black female to become a mayor in the State of Alabama. She served from 1984 until
2000, a total of four, four year terms. During her tenure she was an active member of numerous political, civic
and religious committees and organizations, such as: National Conference of Black Mayors, Alabama
Democratic Committee, Alabama League of Municipalities, Central Alabama Comprehensive Health Board of
Directors, Habitat for Humanity, Russell County Chamber of Commerce, Lee County Agency on Aging,
Southern Union Conference SDA Executive Committee, Hurtsboro Ladies Auxiliary, and East Alabama Funeral
Directors Association. She also received numerous awards. Some of her most cherished and distinguished
awards and honors include: 2009 Russell County Commission Proclamation Celebrating Black History, 2009
Spirit of Marion Honoree – Alabama State University, 1996 Distinguished Service Award – Alabama League of
Municipalities, 1996 Certificate of Appreciation – Rebuilding Railroad Street Bridge, and the 1986 National
Sojourner Meritorious Service Award – Alabama Funeral Directors & Morticians Association.
Mrs. Stovall-Tapley was not only a politician and educator, but also a business woman. She owned and
operated Stovall Funeral Home, Inc. until her health declined. Stovall Funeral Home, Inc. is still a family-owned
business serving the Hurtsboro and surrounding communities for 96 years.
Cherishing loving memories of her are daughters Kathleen (Sell) Caldwell of Decatur, GA and Audrey Stovall
Brown of Seale, AL; four step-children, Barbara Howard of Miami, FL, Laura Tapley and Gloria (John) Tapley-
Miles of Atlanta, GA and Emil Tapley of Opelika, AL.; five grandchildren Alison (Kateric) Stovall-Quinnie, Royce
Stovall, Noah Caldwell, Sydny Caldwell and Tori Tapley; two great-grandchildren Alexander Stovall and
Kamden Caldwell; a devoted God son, Jesse James Giddeon and special life-long friend Evelyn Salary; a host of
cousins, nieces, nephews and friends and former students of the Hurtsboro and Russell County, Alabama
communities. Mrs. Stovall-Tapley was loved by so many that we cannot name them all. Just know that she
genuinely loved and appreciated you all.
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Previous Events
Visitation
Sunday
5
May
2:00 PM
- 6:00 PM
Stovall Funeral Home
605 Main St
P.O. Box 154
Hurtsboro, AL 36860
Service
Tuesday
7
May
1:00 PM
- 3:00 AM
St. Paul AME Church
3 Highway 51 North
Hurtsboro, AL 36860
Cemetery Details
Location
Ross Chapel Cemetery
Kent Street
Hurtsboro, AL 36860
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