Mary G. Sullivan of Scotland, Arkansas died on January 24,2003. Her tenure in SLI was short but important. Mary could be seen in the gardens in Lafayette during the 2001 SLI Convention with her AIS Judges Handbook in hand. She did garden and exhibition training in the gardens and at the show during the convention. These training sessions helped her fulfill her requirements to become an Accredited AIS Judge.

A member of the planning committee for the 2002 SLI Convention in Little Rock, Mary worked diligently behind the scenes. She was a horticulture clerk for the show and had planned on debuting as Maria Brevicaulis, but the uncertainty of her illness kept her from fulfilling the role.   Mary loved Louisiana Irises and attending the SLI and AIS Conventions but most of all she loved the people and the friends she saw at these gatherings. She never met a stranger and loved almost every iris she saw. This love of people, irises and conventions kept her going through her three year illness.

Left behind are a son, daughter, a granddaughter, 2 cats and scores of friends from her involvement with the Central Arkansas Iris Society, Region 22 of the American Iris Society, the Society for Louisiana Irises and other iris organizations. She also left behind a best friend, Pat Stover.

Mary will certainly be missed but she will remain in our hearts and memories forever.