Mary Grodner

Mary Lula Laslie Grodner, PhD, 77, a long time resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana departed this life on September 5, 2012. Visitation will be at 11:00 am on Tuesday, September 11 at the William B. Reilly Memorial University United Methodist Church. A service will be held in Marys memory at 1:00 pm also at the William B. Reilly Memorial University United Methodist Church. She will be laid to rest thereafter at Resthaven Gardens of Memory. Mary was born in her childhood home on the family shade tobacco plantation, Oakdale, near Attapulgus, Georgia on January 5, 1935. She was the third daughter born into her family, which would grow to include three more sisters and three brothers. It was here that she learned the values that she carried throughout her life: love of family, love of God, respect for all of Gods creation, and the willingness to serve others. She attended primary and secondary schools in Decatur County, Georgia and Gadsden County, Florida. Mary graduated from Wesleyan College, in Macon, Georgia in 1955 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. She received her Masters of Science Degree in Zoology from LSU in 1957. While working on her Masters degree, Mary met her husband of 53 years, Dr. Robert M. Bob Grodner, who was working on his PhD at the time. They were married on August 22, 1959. Before the birth of her two sons, she taught at Otterbein College in Westerville, Ohio from 19581960. When her husband became a Professor in the Food Science Department at LSU in 1963, Mary and the family moved permanently to Baton Rouge. While raising her sons, she then received her PhD in Entomology in 1973, also from LSU. Mary next continued her academic career as an Assistant Professor of Zoology at LSU. She moved from that position to serve as a Pesticide Safety Specialist for the LSU Agricultural Center as well as the long time Pesticide Coordinator for the State of Louisiana. During her service with the LSU Agricultural Center, Mary authored numerous articles that have been widely published. Being a sought after speaker, she also made hundreds of presentations on the national and state level regarding pesticide labeling and usage, and other technical matters. She was also a member of numerous professional and scientific honor organizations, including Sigma Xi, Gamma Sigma Delta, the Entomological Society of America, the Association of Women in Science, and the American Association of Pesticide Safety Educators. Mary retired with over 35 years of service to LSU. During this time, she was also a very active member of her church, serving as financial committee chairperson and as chairperson of the administrative board of University United Methodist Church. Mary also served in various capacities with the Chapel Choir, the MYF, the 2 By 2 Sunday School Class and the JOY Sunday School Class. Mary was a life member of the United Methodist Women. She was also a long time member, past President and past member of the Board of Directors of the LSU Kiwanis Club. Additionally, Mary was a founding member and past President of the American Association of Pesticide Safety Educators. Over her long and distinguished career, Mary received numerous state and national awards. Those honors include awards from Gamma Sigma Delta, Louisiana Association of County Agents, American Society of Sugar Cane Technologists, National Association of County Agents, American Association of Pesticide Safety Educators, the LSU Agricultural Center, Louisiana Pest Control Management and the Louisiana Mosquito Control Association. One of her favorite awards was the Distinguished Achievement in a Profession award from Wesleyan College bestowed on her in 1993. She is survived by her husband of 53 years, Dr. Robert Maynard Bob Grodner. They were devoted parents of their two sons, R. Marshall Grodner, a resident of Baton Rouge, and Mark W. Grodner, a resident of Cooper City, Florida, both of whom survive her. She was also Mimi to her five grandchildren, Eulalie T. Tess Grodner, Eugenia Berry Jeannie Grodner, Robert M. Max Grodner, Jr., Gabrielle V. Gabby Grodner and Isabella Laslie Bella Grodner, all of whom additionally survive her. She is also survived her loving siblings and several of their spouses, Martha Jean Woodward, and her husband, Sylvester Woodward, of Quincy, Florida, Beulah Brinson of Monticello, Florida, Eleanor Griffin and her husband, Dr. Taylor W. Griffin, Jr. of Deland, Florida, Harriet Reynolds and her husband, Dr. John D. Reynolds, III of Augusta, Georgia, John Laslie of Quincy, Florida and Berry Laslie, of Tallahassee, Florida as well has her brotherinlaw, G. Mayo Livingston, Jr. and his wife Carolyn of Bainbridge, Georgia. She was preceded in death by her father Joseph T. Laslie, her mother, Annie Berry Laslie, her sister, Joan Laslie Livingston, her brother, Lt. Joseph T. Laslie, Jr., U.S.M.C. and her brotherinlaw, E. Bailey Brinson of Monticello, Florida. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Marys name to the Annie Berry and Joseph Laslie Scholarship Fund at Wesleyan College, 4760 Forsyth Road, Macon, Georgia 31210..


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Visitation

University United Methodist Church
3350 Dalrymple Drive
Baton Rouge, LA  70802
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
11 am 1pm

Service

Funeral Service

University United Methodist Church
3350 Dalrymple Drive
Baton Rouge, LA  70802
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
1pm

Cemetery

Resthaven Gardens of Memory
11817 Jefferson Highway
Baton Rouge, LA  70816