Mary Ann "Della" Sterling, age 69, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2012, at Baton Rouge General Medical Center. She was a native of Sunshine, La., and a resident of Baton Rouge. She was a member of Friendship Chapel Baptist Church. Mary was a retired member of Local 1177. She served as the president of APRI until death. She leaves to cherish two children, a son, Nathaniel Wilson, and daughter, Tracy L. Dunbar and husband Paul L. Dunbar; godchild, Christopher M. Bell; three grandchildren, Diana Wilson, Alisha Sterling, and Demon Wilson; four great-grandchildren, Tamara Wilson, Donald Williams, Lawrence Christopher Wilson, and Dintrell Williams; three sisters, Anna Belle Brown, Phyllis Ann Wilson, and Terry L. Hurst; a brother, Kenny Wilson; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bernard Sterling; parents, Willie Wilson Sr. and Mary Ann Wilson; two sisters, Gladys W. Thomas and Glenda W. Jackson; and three brothers, Willie Wilson Jr., Robert Bobby Wilson and Lawrence Wilson. A celebration will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, March 9, at Friendship Chapel Baptist Church, 2111 North St., Baton Rouge, officiated by the Rev. Chalres Allen. Arrangements with Lawson-Rollins Purple Shield Funeral Home.