Mary Gobran Hanna

Mary Gobran Hanna, age 81, of Birmingham, Alabama, peacefully went to be with Jesus at her home on March 6, 2026.

She was born on August 8, 1944, in Mansoura, Egypt, to Abdou and Etdal Gobran. She earned her undergraduate degree in Sociology from Ain Shams University. In 1970, God joined her to John Hanna in marriage in the Coptic Orthodox Church in Heliopolis. Soon after, their adventure in life and family began as they spent their first two years of marriage in Dresden, Germany. As she would throughout her life, Mary adapted quickly, beginning studies comparing Egyptian and German education.

Mary and John later returned to Egypt, where they hoped to start a family. Mary prayed for daughters, and in 1973 her first daughter, Halla, was born. Two years later their journey continued when they moved to Manhattan, New York. Once again adapting to a new culture and environment, Mary began assisting with the accounting of a private business. In 1977 her prayers were answered again with the birth of her second daughter, Irini.

The adventure did not stop there. Seeking a quieter place to raise their girls, the family moved from the bustling city of Manhattan to Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

It was there that Mary flourished. She learned to drive and worked in several roles, including on staff at The University of Alabama and later in accounting at a local appliance store. Yet by far her favorite chapter was owning her own restaurant on the university campus, Stuffers. It allowed her to combine two of her greatest joys—cooking and caring for people. In 1997 Mary moved one final time, settling in Birmingham, Alabama. In January 1999 she began working at Compass Bank, where she faithfully served for over fifteen years. No matter where she lived or what job she held, Mary loved to serve in the church and gave of her time faithfully.

Her blessings multiplied as her family grew. In November 1999, her daughter Irini married Kenneth Fambro, whom Mary joyfully welcomed as a son. One of her greatest joys came in 2003 when God made her a grandmother, Tita, with the birth of her granddaughter Kalila Hanna Fambro, followed in 2007 by the birth of her grandson Kenneth Warren Fambro III. Her heart was further filled when her daughter Halla married David Reed in 2010.

Mary, known affectionately as “Mimi” by some family and friends, loved Jesus deeply. Her faith carried her through every season and adventure of her life until her final transition home. Her love language was cooking. Through meals she created spaces where people felt welcomed, seen, and loved. Once she became Tita to Kalila and Warren, nothing brought her greater joy. Every holiday, gathering, and celebration centered around the two of them. Her home was always opened from students to families. She found joy and laughter when her home was full of people.

She is survived by her husband of 55 years, John Hanna; her daughters Halla (David) Reed and Irini (Kenneth) Fambro; and her beloved grandchildren Kalila Hanna Fambro and Kenneth Warren Fambro, III. She was preceded in death by her parents, Abdou and Etdal Gobran, and her brothers, Samir and Ihab Gobran.

Her legacy lives on in the faith she carried, the meals she shared, and the family she loved so deeply.