Mary Jackson

Mary Lee Wright Jackson passed away on November 17, 2024, at home. She was 92 years old. Mary was born on December 25, 1931, in Franklin County, North Carolina, to Arthur Wright and Birdie Nicholson Wright; she was the youngest of 5 girls. Mary was affectionately known as Gerry to her family. Her father was a successful and respected farmer. Her mother, Birdie, died when Mary was 11 years old.

Mary grew up in Louisburg, North Carolina. She excelled at academics and even skipped a grade in high school. After high school, Mary enrolled in the St. Agnes Hospital and School of Nursing Training Program at St. Augustine’s College in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she earned a degree in nursing. Unable to find work in the segregated South, she moved to New York City where she found employment and made many friends. One of whom, Carolyn Cephus, introduced her to William Jackson, a lab technician, who went by his middle name, Milton, among family and friends. On May 17, 1959, Mary and Milton were married at Janes United Methodist Church in Brooklyn, New York, and were together for 56 years until Milton’s passing in 2015.

The couple worked in Manhattan and lived in Harlem where they welcomed their first child, Melanie. A few years later they purchased a home in Greenburgh, NY, in the Parkway Homes neighborhood. Mary and Milton alternated Sunday worship at their respective Baptist (in Brooklyn) and Episcopal (in Manhattan) churches. Wanting to establish one tradition and worship closer to home, they visited several churches in the area. They chose Grace Episcopal Church in White Plains where they were warmly welcomed by Reverend Wesley Konrad. Soon after, their second child, William Milton Jr., affectionately called Billy, was born.

Grace Church remained Mary and Milton’s spiritual home to the end of their lives. Mary assisted with Sunday school, pastoral care, and was a member of the Episcopal Church Women and Altar Guild. She was also a Girl Scout leader and loved animals. The home always had dogs and cats. One day she even brought home a rabbit from work. Her hobbies included gardening, sewing, knitting and crocheting, fishing, puzzles and crosswords. She loved to cook and was an excellent baker. Family favorites were pecan pie, coconut custard pie, and pineapple coconut cake. Mary also enjoyed going to the exercise studio with her daughter, Melanie, taking walks with her neighbors, listening to music, and singing. Mary spent most of her nursing career at Grasslands Hospital, currently known as Westchester Medical Center, from which she retired in 1990 as a nursing supervisor.

Mary cherished her family and never forgot her roots in North Carolina. The Jackson family made yearly trips to visit Mary’s father, sisters and their families and other relatives. When her grandchildren, Aaron and Dana, arrived, she eagerly took an active role in their caregiving.

Walks at the Kensico Dam and visits to the Greenburgh Nature Center were a few favorite activities. Mary adored her grandchildren and they returned her affection.

In 2008, Mary was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease. The progression was slow, and she lived with it for 16 years. During the last 12 years, she resided with Melanie and her family in New Rochelle, NY, where she departed this life.

Mary is predeceased by her parents Arthur and Birdie Wright, her sisters Irene Lucas (Clarence), Lottie Hall (Alphonso), Lucy Stark (William) and Kattie Clifton (Theodore); sister-in-law Carmen Wells and her husband Vincent Wells; niece Marie Stark; nephews William Stark Jr., Worth Lucas, and Lamont Lucas. She is survived by and lives on through her children Melanie Jackson (Marc Walters) and William Jackson Jr. (Dimple Keshav); grandchildren Aaron and Dana Walters; nieces Laureen Wells (Paul Fish), Sylvia Clifton West, Teresa Clifton and Veronica Stark; nephews Kevin Wells (Christopher Hanaway), Reginald Hall (Vondra) and Gregory Hall (Annette) and her dedicated caregiver Anola Wilson.

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ATTENTION: As we continue public visitations/services amid the continuing COVID & various health concerns, we need your help in limiting/controlling the number of people, so please govern yourself accordingly for the health & safety of all. Thank you so kindly!

A Wake/Visitation will be held on Friday, November 29th from 9:00-9:45AM, with Funeral Service following at 10:00AM, all at Grace Episcopal Church. So you may come to the Church to try to attend, & feel free to wear masks. At the very least you can get hand sanitizer & sign the register book (NOTE: please feel free to bring your own pen). If not at capacity, you will be allowed in to have a seat; but if at capacity by the time you get there, you may be required to leave the premises after signing register book, so as not to be in violation nor cause a health hazard, so please govern yourself accordingly. Regardless of if you're able to enter/be seated, or not, please refrain from too much touching/hugging/handshaking, preferably elbow bumping briefly if at all. If instructed, PLEASE KINDLY RESPECTFULLY leave the building & premises if the church is at their capacity. PLEASE KINDLY RESPECTFULLY follow & abide by the directions of the funeral home staff and/or church or cemetery personnel at all times. We Thank You in advance for following directions & policies, so as to make all go smoothly the day of the services, to eliminate further burden on the family, and to maintain the health & safety of All. Any questions, or if any clarity is needed, please call ahead to the funeral home and/or church, and/or speak to us from a safe distance if present.

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The Entire Staff of Lee's Funeral Home, LLC respects that the Jackson Family entrusted the care of their loved one to us, and that they value the level of service & attention our funeral home provides. We are honored, in turn, to provide comfort, assistance and service to the Jackson Family during their time of bereavement.

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Please leave written condolences now herein on the Memory Wall to express your sorrow, share your memories, and as an expression of sympathy & way to communicate with/offer comfort to the family, that they and others may see, and may be a lasting tribute in her honor, whether you're able to attend or not. Definitely Please SIGN IN on the Memory Wall as a virtual way of signing the register book, especially if choosing to stay safe/not able to sign in person.

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Please feel free to come to the church & cemetery wearing a mask, & feel free to wear a mask inside the church, and social distance as much as possible. If you know you have a coronavirus/COVID-19; are sick/experiencing symptoms of coronavirus/COVID-19; are immuno-compromised and/or have health/other conditions that make your body more susceptible to illness, please do NOT attend any services nor come to either facility. Please feel free to bring & use your own pen for signing the family's register book - you are encouraged to please BRING & use your own PEN for signing. Please follow & abide by the rules of the church & cemetery, and directions of the funeral home staff, church and/or cemetery personnel at all times. We Thank You in advance for following directions & any policies, so as to make all go smoothly the days of the services & burial, to eliminate further burden on the family, and to maintain the health & safety of All. Any questions, or if any clarity is needed, please call ahead to the church and/or funeral home, and/or speak to us from a safe distance if present.

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In lieu of flowers, and as a lasting tribute, the family kindly appreciates donations be made in her name/memory/honor to Grace Episcopal Church (see address herein below or above under service details), or to Westchester Jewish Community Services and/or The Alzheimer's Association (may be done on your own or through the donation tabs/links here in website at the bottom of this page). You may also plant a tree in her name/memory/honor, as another form of condolence. If sending flowers despite the family's request, sending small plants or vases is preferable & may be delivered either on Wed. Nov. 27th, 2024 by/before 6:00PM to Lee's Funeral Home; or on Friday, Nov. 29th by 9:00AM to Grace Episcopal Church. The Family Thanks You!