Mrs. Mary Ellen Jackson-Whetstone was born in Eastover, SC on July 13, 1926 to the late Walter and Hattie Williams. She departed this life on April 25, 2017 from her home in Columbia, South Carolina.

Mrs. Whetstone, or Miss Mae as she was affectionately known, attended Richland County public schools and later went to the Spartanburg School of the Deaf and Blind. 

After years of working to care for her family, she eventually retired from the Coca-Cola Bottling Company in 1975.

 Mrs. Whetstone, who was also known as “Mother Whetstone”, was a faithful member of New William Street Baptist Church for over 30 years. Mother Whetstone believed in family togetherness; therefore, she, along with her family, became dedicated members of Saint John Baptist Church. She attended faithfully until her illness prevented her from going regularly. Mother Whetstone loved Saint John, and Saint John loved Mother Whetstone. At Saint John, she was a member the Bailey/Green/Hingleton/Brown Family Ministry Unit and looked forward to the visits from her pastor and deacons.

Mrs. Whetstone was not only a loving mother to her children and grandchildren, but she loved many others as well. She enjoyed cooking for her family and friends. Every Sunday her home was filled with her relatives and her church friends. When she was not feeding her loved ones, she could be found watching Family Feud, Walker Texas Ranger or wrestling. 

Mrs. Whetstone was predeceased by her parents, Walter and Hattie Williams; her husband, Arthur Sam Jackson; her son, Sam Authur Jackson, Sr., six sisters, 14 brothers and four sons-in-law.

Mrs. Mary Whetstone leaves to cherish her memory a loving companion of 38 years, Avant James; six daughters: Rosanne J. Leysath, Mary F. Bailey, Carolyn J. Williams-Pinckney, Irene (Booker T.) McFadden, Yvette L. Taylor and Lorine B. Jackson, all of Columbia, South Carolina; three goddaughters: Ernestine Durant of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Mary Barnett and Gail Loyd, both of Columbia, South Carolina; one godson, Billy Green of Columbia, South Carolina; two sisters, Erthalene Jackson of Saginaw, Michigan and Grace Jones of Detroit, Michigan; one brother, Curtis Williams of Columbia, South Carolina; 20 grandchildren, 51 great-grandchildren, 12 great-great grandchildren, and a host of cousins, nieces and nephews who loved her as much as she loved them.