Mary Jefferson was the last surviving child of David and Fannie Washington Mack. She was born February 28, 1935 and grew up in the community of Little Camden in Columbia, South Carolina. She passed away December 4, 2016.

She attended Taylors Elementary and Booker T. Washington High Schools. She stood out as a shortstop and second baseman on the community girls’ softball team, which was managed by her future husband, Cornelius Jefferson. They played with bats and no gloves yet still managed to win several city championships!

Mary accepted Christ at an early age and was a member of The Pentecostal Holiness Church in Arthurtown, in Columbia, South Carolina. She later united with Bible Way Church of Christ World Wide (Piedmont Avenue) until moving to New York in 1961.

Mary married her childhood sweetheart, Cornelius Jefferson. Together they reared six children. Mary was a very hands-on mother who stressed family togetherness, manners, education and spirituality. She loved cooking and was known for her sweet potato pies.

Her legacy is her children

Although she loved and adored all of her children, she was extremely proud to raise a daughter who graduated cum laude from Hunter College in New York City and received her Master's degree in Education from Antioch College in Ohio. She went on to teach in the New York City public school system, the Guilderland Central School District in Albany, New York and at The Private Institution of Bank Street College of Education. She departed her life at the early age of 48 — her name, Sandra Faye Jefferson-Pezzella.

Mary also raised a son, Rick Jefferson, who is employed in television and owns the distinction of having covered the funeral of Pope John Paul II at the Vatican in Rome as well as the Royal Wedding in London, England. He's covered a World Series, Super Bowls, presidential campaigns, presidential debates, presidential inaugurations, etc. He is currently an Director of Production for CBS News.

Mary raised another daughter, Lena Renee Jefferson-Mazone, who received a certificate of achievement from SCS Business Technical Institute. She also attended Rowan Community College. Lena worked for TIAA-CREF Teachers’ Retirement Fund for over 25 years. She currently works for the Compass Group in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Her sons, Cornelius and Gregory Jefferson, are employed by the Building Services Union as Residential Building Service Workers on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.

Last, but certainly not least, Eugenia Diane Jefferson currently works as A Home Health Aid for Personal Touch Home Health Care for seniors.

Mary was predeceased by her parents, David and Fannie Mack; husband, Cornelius Jefferson, Sr.; daughter, Sandra Faye Pezzella; brother, Archie Mack; and sisters: Louise Campbell, Ola Mae English and Margaret Johnson.

Mary leaves to cherish her memories, three sons: Cornelius (Olivia) Jefferson, Jr., Gregory (Yolanda) Jefferson of the Bronx, New York and Rick (Danielle) Jefferson of North Brunswick, New Jersey; two daughters, Lena Renee (Maurice) Jefferson-Mazone of Charlotte, North Carolina and Eugenia Diane Jefferson of the Bronx, New York; and six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She also leaves her sisters-in-law: Josephine Hall, Ida (Walter) Jackson, Betty Hassell, all of Columbia, South Carolina and Shirley Jefferson of Washington, DC; lifelong friends from childhood: Myrtis English, Robbie Lee Means and Dorothy Bell George; and other relatives and friends, all of whom will miss her dearly.

Also in memory, she left behind a legacy that instilled treating everyone with respect; and always put family first.