Obituary – Mary Ann Blessing
Saturday, February 14, 2026

Mary Ann Blessing, age 67, went home to be with the Lord on February 12, 2026, in Bristol, Tennessee. Born in Rockville, Maryland, Mary Ann lived a life marked by unwavering faith, quiet strength, and tireless service to others.
Mary Ann was married for 43 years to her devoted husband, Herschel Blessing, with whom she built a life centered on faith and family. Together, they raised a family grounded in faith and love.
She was a beloved mother and grandmother, known for loving people deeply and serving them faithfully. Mary Ann is survived by her sons Greg (wife Shana) and Ben (wife Lydia), and her daughter MaryBeth (husband Lucas). She was a proud grandmother to Alex, Avery, Anderson, Aniston, Aiden, Annabelle, Addilyn, and Eleanor, each of whom brought her immense joy.
Mary Ann is also survived by her brothers Henry (preceded in death by sister in law Jeanie), Jim and sister in law April, John and sister in law Joan, Joe and sister in law Cindy, and Jeff and sister in law Terri, all of whom shared in a close family bond rooted in love and faith. She was preceded in death by her parents, Lloyd and Mary Gregory.
For more than 40 years, Mary Ann devoted her life to serving others through ministry and her work for Kingsway Charities. The global impact Kingsway Charities has made is outstanding. Since 2000, the ministry has distributed over $4.1 billion in medications and medical supplies worldwide. In 2025, the ministry distributed over $483 million in medications and medical supplies, 374 relief trips, 24 international containers, and inspired 2,834 volunteer hours. But if you knew Mary Ann you would know that the statistic she was most proud of was the 22,710 individuals decisions made for Christ. She was on fire for God and it showed in her family and work.
She was a prayer warrior, a quiet servant, and a behind-the-scenes leader who never sought recognition but faithfully answered God’s call. She organized, encouraged, listened, prayed, and showed up, again and again, for people in need. To know Mary Ann was to experience compassion, steadiness, and Christlike love in action. She truly never met a stranger.
Mary Ann’s legacy is not only found in the ministries she led or the lives she touched, but in the faith she lived out daily, faith that shaped her family, strengthened her community, and pointed countless people toward hope.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Monday, February 16th, 2026, at 134 Commerce Court, Bristol, Virginia, with family visitation from 3:00–4:00 p.m., followed by a time of fellowship and visitation with the family from 4:00–6:00 p.m. The service will begin at 6:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Kingsway Charities, honoring Mary Ann’s lifelong commitment to ministry and service.
While she will be deeply missed, her family rejoices in the assurance that she is now fully healed, fully whole, and in the presence of the Lord she loved and served so faithfully.
More Stories |
-
The Walking Horse Report recently learned of the passing of longtime exhibitor and owner Darden Gladney.
Read More
-
Read More
-
Effective June 30th with The Prodigy qualifiers, SHOW judges will be reinstating and enforcing the rule of horses entering the ring at a flat walk and proceeding past a set marker so the horse’s way of going can be evaluated for locomotion.
Read More
-
The United States Department of Agriculture has submitted a new proposed rulemaking concerning the Horse Protection Act to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) for review. According to the federal regulatory agenda, the proposal was received by OIRA on June 23, 2026.
Read More
-
Blountville, TN – Registration is open for the St. Jude Walk East Tennessee presented by the East Tennessee Walking Horse Association during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month at 9 a.m. on Saturday September 12, 2026 at Northeast State Community College’s Main Campus in Blountville TN.
Read More
-
The Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration is pleased to announce the 2026 class schedule following valuable feedback received from owners, trainers, and exhibitors.
Read More
-
Ralph Wildon Johnson, age 93, of Shelbyville, Tennessee, passed away peacefully with his family by his side on June 20, 2026, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
Read More
-
Debra Lynn Roberson Graham, age 71, passed away on June 8, 2026. She was born on September 23, 1954, to Mildred and Robert Sidney “Buck” Roberson.
Read More
-
Read More
-
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced that Kelly Moore has been selected as the permanent administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), elevating her from the acting role she has held since February.
Read More
|