Mary Elizabeth "Mary Lou" Hayden of Hollywood, MD, passed away peacefully on February 2, 2024, at the age of 91 from advanced dementia. She is survived by her two sons, Charles G. Hayden, Jr. of Rehoboth Beach, DE and Robert W. Hayden, Sr. (Kathy) of Baldwin, MD, five grandchildren, Nicole L. Mattingly (Justin) of St Inigoes, MD, Erin H. Riester (PJ) of Coranado, CA, Lauren E. Hayden and Robert W. Hayden, Jr. of Cockeysville, MD, and Catherine E. Mumrath (Earl) of Richmond, VA, as well as six great grandchildren, JT Mattingly of Davie, FL, Mary Mattingly of Hendersonville, TN, Adelle Hayden of Great Mills, MD, Lili Walker of St. Inigoes, MD, and Charlotte and Felicity Riester of Coranado, CA. Mary was preceded in death by her loving husband of nearly 58 years, Charles G. (Garner) Hayden, her son Michael A. Hayden, her granddaughter, Britany A. Hayden, and her siblings James Louis Tennison, Sr. and Joseph Edward Tennison.
Mary was born on October 10,1932 in Leonardtown, MD and was the daughter of Louis Tennison and Shirley (Combs) Tennison of Great Mills, MD. She attended St. Michael's School and St. Mary's Academy, graduating in 1950. Upon graduation, she went to work at Blair's Jewelry in Leonardtown, MD. She married Garner on November 10, 1951 at Holy Face Catholic Church in Great Mills, MD. They built their home on Hayden property in Hollywood, MD and raised their family amongst many Hayden family members; Mary remained in that home until March 2021.

Once her children were born, she became a stay-at-home mom. Later, she went to work for The First National Bank of St. Mary's, starting in the Proof Department, moved to the Lexington Park branch, and ended her career at the Pax River branch as a Customer Service Representative, retiring after 20 years of service.

She was a member of St. John's Francis Regis Catholic Church and attended Saturday evening Mass regularly. In March of 2021, her dementia became serious enough that she moved to Rehoboth Beach, DE to live next door to her son, Charlie. She moved into assisted living in December of 2021.

Mary Lou and Garner enjoyed many camping trips in their RV, driving across the country twice. If there was a historic house along the way, she had to stop and see it. She was a genealogy buff, tracing the Hayden, Garner, Tennison, and Combs families back to the 1700s.

She enjoyed reading, playing cards, spending time with her grandchildren, and crocheting. Every new family member received a "Nanny Blanket", be it a new baby or a grandson-in-law.

She was a member of the Historical Society of St. Mary's County and The Ladies Auxiliary of the Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department. She also delivered Meals on Wheels with her high school friends, Mary Rose Ott and Mary Britton; the three Musketeers.

Mary Lou and Garner had a tight knit ground of friends in Hollywood. Nearly every Saturday night there was a card game at someone's house. The "gang" consisted of many friends who worked at SMECO with Garner and The First National Bank of St. Mary's with Mary Lou. Saturday evenings meant there would be baked potatoes, corn on the cob, and steak on the grill at the "Shack" hosted by Joe and Cyrilla Beck. She was the last surviving member of that close knit group.

The family will receive friends for a visitation, on Wednesday, February 14, 2024 from 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M., with prayers recited at 7:00 P.M in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, 41590 Fenwick Street, Leonardtown, MD. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, February 15, 2024 at 10:00 AM in St. John's Francis Regis Catholic Church, Hollywood, MD.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the St. Johns Revitalization Fund, the Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary, or Vitas Hospice Care by calling 1-800-854-3402.

The pallbearers will be her grandson Robert Hayden Jr, her great grandson, JT Mattingly, her nephews, James L. Tennison, Jr. and Joseph E. Tennison, Dale, James, and a faithful neighbor, Chuck Hayden.