Mary Francis Washington was born to the late Sylvester and Rosie Lee Pierce in Welches Creek, NC on September 26, 1933 and took her flight home on December 30, 2023 at Taconic Rehabilitation and Nursing Facility Beacon NY. She was 90 years young.
Mary attended Columbus County School District. She married Eddie Lee Washington and moved to Newburgh, NY in 1956. She worked at Regal Bags for a period of time and then at West point Laundry for many years until she became disabled.
Mary loved the Lord and was a member of the New Hope Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Coleman Briggs for many years. She took pride telling the story about how she participated in the march from South Water Street to 20 Mill Street in 1968 to the new edifice.
In 1981 Mary moved to Lake Wales Florida where she became a member of Greater St. Thomas Family Church under the leadership of Pastors Roscoe and Daniel Williams, she served as mother of the church. She relocated back to Newburgh NY in 2018 where she joined Baptist Temple Church serving on the PALS Ministry and as a church mother.
Mary leaves to cherish her memory 2 daughters, Elder Mable Pierce of Norfolk VA. Mary Ann Rutty of Newburgh NY, 4 sons Willie Lee Pierce (Sandy) of Schenectady NY, John Thomas Pierce of Portland OR,
Oliver Stanley (Mary) of Long SC, Rev. Fabian Washington of Richmond VA. 20 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren, 3 great great grandchildren & a host of neices, nephews and relatives.
She was predeceased by her parents Sylvester Pierce and Rosie Lee Pierce, son Eddie Lee Washington Jr. 4 sisters Julia Shaw, Rev. Minnie Bell Powell, Verdi Lee Lennon, Clara Mae Cotton, 2 brothers Henry Lee Pierce and Rev. Horace Pierce.