Mary Gladys McBrayer Houts-Sherwood age 98 of Knoxville passed away, Wednesday, January 27, 2016. Mary was a longtime resident of Townsend, TN and died peacefully in her sleep at a local nursing home where she was battling Alzheimer’s and other geriatric issues. A follower of Jesus Christ, Mrs. Sherwood was a member of Kinzel Springs Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by: Parents, Frank McBrayer and Lydia Emerson McBrayer; Sons, James X. Houts and Jarrell M. Houts; recently her daughter, J. Lynelle Houts Bennett; Sister, Dolores McBrayer Karbach. At 98 years young Mary was the senior living member of the McBrayer clan and leaves her Daughter, Dolores Villarreal of Knoxville; several cousins in Maryville, TN: Claude, Keith, Ken, Sue, Jim, Shirley, Joan, Jean, Barbara and Douglas; Cousin, Mickey Groover; Sister, Mary Fayette of Knoxville, TN; Four Grandchildren, Rev. Chris White (Deb) of Belize, Central America, Lisa Cibrian (Joseph), Ana Villarreal Quesnel (Jason) of Corpus Christi, TX, Lydia Morton (Wes) of Knoxville, TN; Great-grandchildren, Emma & Sara Morton and Ben White of Knoxville; James L. Emmert, III, Joshua G. Emmert, Rachel Koegel, Josiah Villarreal and Lilliana Quesnel all of TX; Great-Great-Grandchild, Decklyn Rose Emmert. Equally proud of both her Scottish-Irish and Native American heritage, Mary was a member of the Eastern Band of the Great Cherokee Nation. Receiving her nurse’s training at Fort Sanders Hospital in Knoxville, TN, Mary served many years at Children’s Hospital, UT Medical Center and various health care facilities prior to becoming charge nurse on the South Wing of Hill Haven Nursing Home where she retired. It was her dream to become a medical missionary, but family obligations did not permit. That missionary dream is being fulfilled by both her daughter, granddaughters, and grandson. Family will receive friends from 11:00 AM until 12:00 Noon, Thursday, February 4, 2016 at Smith Trinity Chapel with funeral service at 12:00 Noon. Pastor Chris White, Belize, Central America and pastors Travis and Sharon Ballinger of Freedom House COG, Knoxville, TN will officiate at the celebration of life for Mary Sherwood, our beloved mother, grandmother, friend and servant of God who now resides in heaven. Interment will follow at New South Liberty Cemetery in Athens, TN. Smith Funeral & Cremation Service, Maryville, 865-983-1000, www.SmithFuneralandCremation.com.