Ms. Mary Madonna Childs, 65, our beloved mother, sister, and friend, of Lake Wales, Fla., went home to be with her Lord on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012, at her home.

She was born Oct. 2, 1946, in Fountain City, Tenn., and moved to Lake Wales 26 years ago from Pompano Beach. She was a retired QA Lab Technician for Citrus World. Mary had many interests which included being an amateur archeologist, Rape Crisis counselor, a NAMI facilitator, and attending Hebrew classes. She was a member of Shoresh David Messianic Synagogue in Lakeland.

Survivors include her daughter, Sheila Bateman of Juneau, Alaska; son, Richard Childs and wife Neisha of Palm Beach Gardens; a grandson, Kyle Lewis; sisters, April Sampson and husband Theodore of Lake Wales and Marie Glaze and husband Ray of Kissimmee, and Ramona Altman; brothers, Edward Lawson and wife Sharon, Christopher Stanley, and Stephen Stanley, all of Fort Lauderdale; plus a multitude of nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by a brother, James Lawson.

Memorial services will be held Saturday, Feb. 4, at 2:30 p.m. at Shoresh David Messianic Synagogue with Rabbi Yossi Laster officiating.

Johnson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.