Mary Denny Scott Wray died on July 6, 2026, peacefully and comfortably surrounded by immediate and extended family. She now rests in the Lord’s home.
Mary Denny was born in Richmond, Virginia, on April 7, 1939, to Buford Scott and Mary Nixon Scott. She attended St. Catherine’s School, Westover School, and Sweet Briar College. She had three sons, Marshall Bagley Reid, Buford Scott Reid, and James Garnett Reid, with her former husband L. Bagley Reid. Mary Denny was predeceased by her ex-husband Michael B. Wray. She lived in New York City, Houston, Dallas, and Santa Barbara before returning to her hometown of Richmond over 25 years ago. Wherever she lived, she promptly made new and dear friends for life and immediately became an active member of those communities through local churches, choirs, garden clubs, and other volunteer organizations.
In New York, Mary Denny served as the president of Big Sisters and was a member of the first group of volunteers ever accepted at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. She served multiple terms on St. John’s Church vestry at Fishers Island, NY. Upon returning to Richmond, she energetically embraced voluntary leadership roles that included serving as president of Poplar Forest, the treasurer of the James River Garden Club, from which she received the Georgina M. Rawles distinguished award for service in 2017, a board member of the Richmond Symphony and as a board member of the Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens, where she loved donating her time and working in the gardens.
While local community and church involvement were ever-present hallmarks of her life, there was nothing more important in Mary Denny’s life than her immediate and extended family, and cherished friends with whom she particularly loved one-on-one visits.
Mary Denny defined grace, beauty, and kindness. Others always came first, no matter the time, person, or place. She will be deeply missed by all, but her legacy and selfless spirit will carry on through those who carry just a bit of her with them every day. She loved elephants and penguins the most, but all animals, big and small. Throughout her life, she found great joy in travel, visiting all seven continents. Music was another source of joy and passion — she sang in choirs her entire life, frequently attended the Tanglewood Music Festival and camps, and twice sat through the entirety of Wagner’s Ring Cycle.
She is survived by her three sons, Marshall Bagley Reid (Kathleen), Buford Scott Reid (Kate) and James Garnett Reid (Elizabeth); six grandchildren, Eleanor Scott Reid of Richmond, VA, James Garnett Reid, Jr. of New York, NY, Susanna Reid Wallace (Fleet) of Washington, D.C., Buford Scott Reid, Jr. of New York, NY, Isabelle Baynes Reid of Charlotte, NC, and Walker Ravenel Reid of Flagstaff, AZ, and her dear sister, Leezee Porter. She was predeceased by her siblings, Margery Scott Johnson, Sidney Buford Scott, and George Ross Scott.
A memorial service and celebration of her life will be held at Westminster Canterbury in Richmond on July 20 at 11:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Elk Hill, the Richmond Symphony, or St. John’s Church, all of which she held close to her warm heart. A memorial service on Fishers Island will be held at a later date.
