Mary Ann Lockhart Floyd, 85, Orange

On March 20, 2023, our MVP, Mary Ann Lockhart Floyd, 85, stepped into the batter’s box with bases loaded, tapped her bat twice on home plate and locked in her stance. When she was ahead in the count 3 and 0, COACH gave her the greenlight to swing away. Next pitch, she launched a tater straight away to center field for a walk-off grand slam. Cheering her on as she circled the bases one last time were her biggest fans, daughter, Sarah Nelle Ballard, “adopted daughters” Aimee Dobbs and Annie Hendren, first base coach Maria Elena Waller, third base coach Marlene Idoux, and team mascot Gracie (her beloved little dog and loyal companion). THE COACH was there as she crossed the plate saying, “Great job, game over, well played!

Giving her high fives as she joined them in the big-league dugout were teammates Charles W. “Corky” Lockhart (brother), Albert Floyd (husband), Mary Frances Broussard (beloved Aunt Ducky), Charles V. Broussard (Uncle Bruce), and Michael E. O’Quinn (beloved brother-in-law), D.G. and Margaret Lockhart (parents), Aunt Amy and dearest life-long friends Marie and Leo LeBlanc, Vernon James, and Mary Alice Jacoway.

Mary Ann joined Team Lockhart on January 6, 1938 in Spencer, West Virginia. Coaches were Dorr Gilbert (D.G.) and Margaret Evelyn Radcliffe Lockhart. The team later transferred to Orange, Texas, when Coach Lockhart took a job at Dupont Chemical Company. In her adult years, Mary Ann formed her own team with Assistant Coach, Albert Floyd, in Vinton, Louisiana. There she was a member of First Baptist Church. Mary Ann enjoyed coaching and pitching for the church’s softball team. She was also active in other lady’s slow pitch softball leagues and pitched for many teams well into her 50s. Mentoring rookies was her “sweet spot” and many young girls in Vinton and beyond were impacted by Mary Ann’s “love of the game.” She spent many a weekend traveling throughout the US to cheer on her brother, Corky, and his teammates in their fast-pitch softball endeavors. While still in Vinton, Mary Ann was used as a “pinch runner” to finish out Albert’s inning as City Alderman after he was called up to the big leagues.

Upon retiring, after 35 years at Bell South/Southwestern Bell (which later became AT&T), Mary Ann moved to Toledo Bend Lake where she enjoyed fishing and boating. Many extra innings with friends and family were spent at the lakehouse. Mary Ann loved traveling! She never let the fear of striking out deter her. She traveled to Australia and New Zealand, took a Fall Foliage tour on the East Coast, camped with Sarah Nelle, Jimmie and Virginia and delighted in several trips to New York. A trip to New York with her grandson’s middle school in which she, Michael, Sarah Nelle, and Virginia left the tour to take in a Yankees game at old Yankee Stadium was definitely gold glove worthy. Mary Ann loved snow skiing and traveled numerous times with friends and family to Colorado and Utah. A dinger of a trip was when her daughter bought her a one-way ticket to Alaska to have Coca Cola, peanuts and popcorn with long-time family friends at their stadium. (A return ticket was purchased when she decided it was time to come home.)

At the request of diehard fan, Michael, (her beloved grandson) who wanted his Grammy to live close enough so he could walk or ride his bike to her house, she relocated to New Caney. There the name on the back of her jersey became Grammy Mary as she delighted in taking care of little leaguers whose parents had to work during the day. Those little leaguers are adults now and they continued to love on and visit Grammy Mary right up to her final inning. While in the neighborhood, Mary Ann enjoyed going to Astros’ games with her daughter Sarah Nelle. Together they attended the 2005, 2017, and 2019 World Series and championship series at Minute Maid Park. Mary Ann was a member of Forestwood Baptist Church where she kept the garden in shape and helped decorate for special occasions.

Grammy was one of Michael’s biggest fans. She enjoyed going to his ballgames and cheering just like she did for Corky. And to the delight of other baseball parents she would yell loudly, “Rock-n-Fire, Michael! Come on Blue, do you need to borrow my glasses? Just rub a little dirt on it and get back out there!” She became known as Grammy by all of the baseball parents and neighbors in our neighborhood. When great granddaughter Sadie started t-ball, Grammy was there to cheer for her and we know that now she has the best seat in the house to continue that cheering.

Those left to reminisce about the “good ole days” are daughter Sarah Nelle Ballard (Jimmie), grandson Michael Ballard (Kaylee), two great granddaughters, Sadie Leighann and Brooklyn Carroll Ballard, one sister Margaret Jean "Pud" O'Quinn, Mary Vice, Ellen Reed (Neville), Missy McClelland (Bud), Gaye Lockhart, Scott Lockhart (Gingi), Michelle Hoffpauir (Marcus), Christopher Lockhart, Cricket (Janell Floyd), Barney Bridges (Linda), Kert Leblanc (Mandy), David Leblanc (Laresa), Virginia Ballard (travel buddy), Betty Jo James (life-long “running buddy” and matron of honor), Joy Louise, J. P. and Diane Poirier, Aimee Dobbs, Annie Hendren (Rich), numerous nieces and nephews of which are all special to “Aunt Nance”, longtime baseball buddies, and Sunday school friends.

For Grammy the game is over. She played hard and was never caught looking or napping. She might have had a few checked swings, a strikeout or two and walked a few batters, but she always returned to the plate or the mound determined to give it her all! Her game was full of excitement, joy, and tears. But we have precious memories that will last all of our years. And as Grammy would say, “There is no crying in baseball.”

A memorial service will be held at First Baptist Church Vinton, officiated by Rev. Ricky Watson. Visitation is at 1:00 p.m. and the service will begin at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to First Baptist Church Vinton or Ward 7 Recreation Center in Vinton.

Arrangements were held under the direction of Claybar Funeral Home in Orange, TX. Words of comfort may be shared with the family at ClaybarFuneralHome.com