Catherine M. Maness was born May 18, 1948, in Jefferson County. She entered eternal rest on Thursday, Dec. 29, at Augusta University Medical Center in Augusta, Ga.

Catherine graduated from Rosa A. Temple High School in 1968 and Alcorn State University in 1972. She earned her master’s degree in business administration from Champaign Urbana, University of Illinois.

Catherine was very diverse, and excelled in her professional career. Her professions included accountant, J.C. Penney, Norcross, Ga.; secretary, Phillips School of Theology, Atlanta; teacher at Massey Business College, Atlanta; assistant director of small minority business, Macon, Ga.; director of CSRA Business League, Augusta; and counselor/trainer of the military ACAP, Fort Gordon, Ga.

In addition to Catherine’s professional endeavors, she was very passionate about working in the ministry. She served as president of the Augusta Sparta District Ministers’ Spouses and was a member of the South Carolina Ministers’ Spouses. She authored a book entitled “Church Etiquette,” a work that became part of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church training institutes.

Catherine genuinely cared about people and was very active in the community and in helping others. Her caring spirit flowed into homeless shelters, where she regularly made contributions and assisted with providing food to dialysis patients who didn’t have proper food to maintain their diet. She was involved with United Way and Georgia Regent University Patient’s Advocacy Board. Catherine’s passion for politics and change led her to activism in the Columbia Democratic Party, where she served as financial secretary.

She was preceded in death by her father, the Rev. Henry Mayfield Sr.; maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. George Smith Sr.; paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Woodson Mayfield; nephew, Eric Mayfield; and a special aunt, Doris Ann Odom.

Her memories will be cherished by her loving and devoted husband, the Rev. J. Ronzell Maness; son, Paul J. Maness; daughter, Emilia Maness; her beloved granddaughter, Amara Vernetta Maness; her loving mother, Dorothy Smith Mayfield; six sisters, Mary M. Logan; Linda M. (Garland) Cary, Henrietta Spates, Frances M. Lacey and Cynthia M. Brown, all of Vicksburg; six brothers, Henry (Rosalyn) Mayfield Jr., Michael (Bertha) Mayfield Sr., the Rev. Gregory (Lynniese) Mayfield, Harold (Sandra) Mayfield and Vincent Mayfield, all of Vicksburg, and Donald Mayfield Sr. of the Bronx, N.Y.; aunts and uncle, Louise McDonald of Greenwood, Katie Larry, Irene Mayfield, Pearl Thomas, Delores Harrington, Shirley Smith, Gladys Smith and Willie Henry Smith, all of Vicksburg; nieces, nephews, and a host of cousins and friends, including three devoted friends like sisters, Ruby Regan, Betty Brown and Cecilia Cole.

Graveside service will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 9, 2017, at Cedar Hill Cemetery under the direction of Lakeview Funeral Home of Vicksburg.