Mary Josephine Lampp

Mary Josephine Pacetty Lampp was born on June 14, 1921, at 1802 First Avenue in Columbus, Georgia, in the house built by her Willett ancestors around 1840.  Her father was Louis Augustus Pacetty, who was born in the same house, as was his mother.  Louis was a portrait photographer.  Mary’s mother was May Ledford Pacetty, born in Sweetwater, Tennessee.  Mary was the youngest of four children; her sisters were Evelyn, Armalie, and Kathryn. She grew up in Columbus and attended Holy Family Catholic Church and Saint Joseph’s Academy through the eighth grade, and graduated from Jordan Vocational High School in Columbus.  She married Larry LeRoy Lampp on December 18, 1941 in the rectory of Holy Family Church.

Mary’s six children and their spouses, her grandchildren, and her great- grandchildren together can make a great rowdy gathering.  We have often told Mama, “This is all your fault!”  She would reply with her sweet smile that she was proud of it.  Mary enjoyed big band music and dancing; she was a wonderful singer and won a singing contest in her youth singing “Danny Boy”.  Later on, her audience, as well as her life, was her family. She was quiet and shy, but had a very good, dry sense of humor.  She never craved adventure, and was always alarmed when one of her children ventured out on some activity that she considered dangerous; the word would go around that someone had bought a boat or planned a trip overseas or got a job as a lifeguard, and the news was always accompanied by the warning, “Don’t tell Mama!”  She loved to be at home, in Columbus.  Her favorite movie was “Gone With the Wind,” her favorite singer Bing Crosby. Watching and keeping up with movies was her favorite hobby.  

Mary died peacefully in her sleep at age ninety-eight, proving everyone wrong about what is good for you to eat—she ate dessert first, and stayed healthy on grits, Hershey bars, and Coca Cola for the last years of her life.  Her faith was simple; she once said that her idea of what heaven would be like was to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to Him telling His stories.  She was loved by many and will be greatly missed.

Her four score descendants survive her; these are her children and grand-children:

Mary Camille Lampp Newsome is married to Herman Chester Newsome; they have two sons, Jerry Chester Newsome and Michael Alan Newsome.

Cecelia Jane Lampp Linton is married to Larry Rahn Linton. They have three sons, Jeb Rahn Linton, Kit Andrew Linton and Coby Jackson Linton.

Catherine Anita Lampp Batastini Snow was first married to Philip Batastini (now deceased); they had two sons, David Todd Batastini and Philip Scott Batastini (deceased) . Catherine was next married to Parker Snow (now deceased); they had one son, Brandon Parker Snow.

Larry Leroy Lampp Jr. married Cindy Day. They have eleven children: Psalms {Suzy} Lampp Hargadine, Larry Leroy Lampp III, Georgia Lampp Guerra, Danielle Lampp Bernall, Catherine Anita Lampp, Michael Thomas Lampp, Julianna Lampp Granstrom, Savannah Lampp Kniebel, Joshua Philip Lampp, Joseph Shane Lampp, and Shawn Kelley Lampp.
John Louis Lampp was married to Carla Anne Hunt. They have two children, Melissa Lampp Sumner and Carla Jane Lampp.  John next married Janelle Jarous (now deceased); he is now married to Carol Delhommer.

Suzan Patricia Lampp Rivers is married to Walker Prioleau Rivers III. They have three daughters, Laurel Grace Rivers Parkhurst, Olivia Faith Rivers Glaze and Mary Blythe Rivers Moseley.

Those who would like to pay their respects are welcome to visit Vance-Brooks Funeral Home Columbus on Monday, September 23 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 noon.  The family will meet visitors at one o’clock that afternoon at Holy Family Catholic Church social hall; following that, the funeral Mass will be held in Holy Family Catholic Church, 320 12th Street, at two o’clock.