Mary Wallace, one of the chief organizers of Georgiana’s Hank Williams Festival and director of the city’s nutrition center, has died.

Wallace was found dead at her home in Georgiana of an accidental gunshot wound, according to Butler County Sheriff Kenny Harden. The accident happened at approximately 10 a.m., said Harden.

Wallace was acting president of the Hank Williams International Society and Fan Club, which she helped found. She organized the annual Hank Williams Festival, held in Georgiana, which was held for the 30th consecutive year this June. She served on the board of directors for the Hank Williams Museum and Boyhood Home.

“She lived and breathed Hank Williams,” said Georgiana mayor Mike Middleton. “The Hank Williams Festival would not have been as much of a success without all her efforts. We have some big shoes to fill.”

Middleton also lauded Wallace for her work as site manager for the Georgiana Nutrition Center.

“She was always talking those folks places. She did a lot with them. And they really enjoyed being there with her,” Middleton said.

Sherri Brackin of Mobile, who served on the board of directors with Wallace, recalls her as “my very, best friend in the whole wide world.”

“Mary had taught me so much about Hank and the fan club; she was so full of information and history,” Brackin recalled.

“We were going to start working on the fan club newsletters together and it was just a pleasure to work with her. We will go on because that is what she would want, but it is not going to be easy. This is the saddest, saddest thing I can think of.”