Mary Laura Latham Chesser
Mary Laura Latham Chesser, 88, of Leonardtown, MD, died on
Wednesday, October 27, 2004 at her residence.
Born on June 25, 1916 in Loveville, MD, she was the daughter of the late John Franklin and
Alberta Marie Long Bailey. She was a homemaker. Laura had a great love for family and
music. She had been a member of the Belles of St. Mary’s, Senior Vibes, Sunnyside
Singers and the Ark and Dove Square dancers. Laura was well known for her paintings and
drawings.
She is survived by her two daughters, Virginia “Ginger” Mattingly-Freeman and
Shirley T. Hayden of Leonardtown, MD, 7 grandchildren, Gary Mattingly, Gina Schaidt, Donna
Owens, David Mattingly, George Hayden, III, Sheila Cullins and Brian Hayden, 10 great
grandchildren and 2 sisters, Mary Helen Knight of Loveville, MD and M. Estelle Wood of
Akron, OH. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by husbands, Joseph
Aloysius “Barts” Latham in 1980 and Emerson Melville Chesser in 2004 whom she
married in 1989, 10 brothers and sisters, J. Harry Bailey, J. Franklin Bailey, T. Aloysius
“Teen” Bailey, J. Wilmer Bailey, J. Robert Bailey, J. Alton Bailey, J. Warren
Bailey, Alberta M. Hampton, Louise E. McGuigan and Dorothy R. Wathen.
The family will receive friends on Friday, October 29, 2004 from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.
at the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A. in Leonardtown, MD. Prayers will be recited at 7:00
p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, October 30, 2004 at 10:00
a.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Morganza, MD. The Reverend Keith Woods will
be the celebrant. Interment will follow in the Queen of Peace Cemetery, Helen, MD.
Serving as pallbearers will be Gary Mattingly, George Hayden, III, David Mattingly, Brian
Hayden, Robbie Bailey and Clarence Bowles.
Memorial contributions may be made to HOSPICE of St. Mary’s, Inc., P.O. Box 625,
Leonardtown, MD 20650.
