Mary Regina Farmer

September 29, 1929 – August 27, 2025

Mary Regina Farmer danced into this world on September 29, 1929, the beloved daughter of Daniel and Annie Cole. She took her first breath under Southern skies, where the soil was rich, the labor was honest, and faith was the cornerstone of life.

From her earliest days, Mary understood the meaning of devotion—first to her family, then to her faith, and always to her purpose. She left formal schooling after the seventh grade, not out of inability but out of necessity, to tend the family farm with hands that would become strong with work, yet gentle with love.

On May 2, 1948, she joined hands and heart with Thomas Aloysius Farmer, Sr. Together they built a home, not just of walls and windows, but of warmth and wisdom. A home that echoed with the laughter, footsteps, and cries of ten children—each one a living testament to her strength, her discipline, and her fierce, unyielding love.

Mary was a protector. A matriarch. A woman of her word and her rosary. Her faith in God was unshakable, and her quiet prayers could be heard whispered between the dawn and the day's work. She was a firm believer that what was planted in love would grow, and she lived that truth every single day.

She worked in humble kitchens that became sacred ground. At Pancake Plus, Howard Johnson, Dessert Inn, Flamingo Restaurant, and La Plata Diner, she fed the bodies of strangers and friends alike. Later, as head baker at the Naval Surface Warfare Base, she fed the souls of service members with biscuits, breads, and sweets—all made from scratch, all made with care.

Her favorite color was blue—the color of calm seas and honest skies. The color of faith. The color of peace. And like the color she loved, Mary lived with quiet dignity, calm determination, and deep inner strength.

Her hands, forever in motion, preserved summer in mason jars, kneaded dough into comfort, and held generations close. Her heart was a haven. Her kitchen a sanctuary. Her life a sermon.

Her grandchildren will always remember the joy of birthday celebrations—each one made special by Mary's love and her famous dishes. Whether it was homemade cakes, pizza, pots of spaghetti, or pepper steak, she celebrated each grandchild as if they were royalty, turning ordinary days into lifelong memories.

Her sense of fun and connection with family showed in even the smallest rituals. Mary had a fondness for playing the numbers—a pastime made all the more special by the family tradition it inspired. Her children and grandchildren would often call her to share the dreams they'd had the night before, trusting her to interpret them and offer just the right number to play. It became a cherished exchange—part folklore, part faith, and all love—woven into the rhythms of family life.

Mary was also a proud and spirited Dallas Cowboys fan. She enjoyed watching football on Sundays, especially when it meant playful banter with her children—diehard Washington Commanders fans. The laughter and joking between them became its own tradition, another way she connected and bonded with her family.

In addition to raising her own children, Mary lovingly raised her granddaughter, Chajuanette Proctor, with the same strength, tenderness, and guidance that defined her role as a mother and grandmother.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Thomas Aloysius Farmer, Sr.; her parents, Daniel and Annie Cole; 20 siblings; her son, James Raymond Sr.; grandchildren Wayne L. Proctor, Jr. ("Wee Wee") and Regina Marie Proctor; great-grandchildren Michael Durant, Jr. (MJ) and Semaj Farmer; and sons-in-law Elliot Samuel, George Hicks, and Wayne L. Proctor, Sr.

She is survived by nine loving children who carry her spirit forward:

Thomas Aloysius Jr. (Tommy) Farmer, Jerald Ambrose Farmer, Barbara Ann Hicks, Mary Evelyn Farmer (Lloyd Michael, Sr.), David Jerome Farmer, Jean Marie Farmer, John Harold (Jackie) Farmer, Mildred Christine Samuel, Dale Michael (Patricia Ann) Farmer, and daughter-in-law Shirley Farmer (NeNe).

She is also lovingly remembered by 23 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren, and 5 great-great-grandchildren; her cherished godchildren, Thelma Queen, Charles Washington, Crystal Bean; a host of nieces, nephews, and devoted family and friends.

One of the most treasured memories of Mary's life was the joyful celebration of her 50th wedding anniversary, where she and Thomas renewed their vows at Sacred Heart Church in La Plata, Maryland—a moment of grace, reverence, and enduring love.

Mary Regina Farmer has returned to her Creator, but her story—rich with love, devotion, and grace—will never end.

She will be deeply missed, always cherished, and forever remembered.

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."

— 2 Timothy 4:7

Online condolences may be may be made to the family at arehartechols.com



Visitation
Tuesday
September 9, 2025
9:00 AM to 10:00 AM
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
201 St Mary's Ave.
LaPlata, MD 20646


Funeral Mass
Tuesday
September 9, 2025
10:00 AM
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
201 St Mary's Ave.
LaPlata, MD 20646


Interment following Funeral Mass
Tuesday
September 9, 2025
11:00 AM
Sacred Heart Church Cemetery
410 St. Marys Ave.
LaPlata, MD 20646