The call to eternal rest and peace came to Mrs. Mary Pressley Brown on Wednesday, April 17, 2019.  She was born on November 28, 1929 to the late Samuel and Cloria McKnight Pressley of Nesmith, South Carolina. She was the ninth of eleven children.

Her parents instilled in her a love of study and hard work and she graduated salutatorian from Brown High School in Nesmith, South Carolina.  She graduated from Claflin University where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education and a Master's Degree in Counseling from South Carolina State University.  She completed further studies at the University of South Carolina, under the General Electric Foundation.  She was accepted into the Doctoral Program at Rutgers University in New Jersey, but she left before degree completion to honor family obligations.

Mary P. followed the careers of her sisters, Anita and Rosa Lee as educators and Alberta and Louise as cosmetologists.  She began her professional career as a teacher and basketball coach in Fort Motte, South Carolina. While in Fort Motte, she met, courted and married Samuel Brown. This union lasted for forty- four years until death did they part. She later worked at Elloree Elementary School as a teacher, guidance counselor and assistant principal for over 30 years.  She was the first African-American to achieve the position of Assistant Principal in the desegregated Orangeburg County School District Three. She also taught and mentored at an alternative school for youth during the summers in the New Jersey area.

Throughout her career she had a profound impact on her students, inspiring them to achieve their highest potential. She advocated for those children whom the system had labeled as "academically challenged." After retirement, her former students continued to let her know how much she meant to them as an educator/mentor and how she helped them achieve many of their life's goals.

Mary P. was multi-dimensional.  Her domestic life was as robust as her public life.  There was a special kind of hospitality in Mary's home. She enjoyed cooking and loved to share her "down home" meals with her family and friends.  Mary P. was a disciplinarian for not only her immediate family but all who knew her. As the matriarch of the Pressleys, the extended family often sent nieces and nephews to stay with "Aunt Mary" while they attended college. She mothered legions who spent extended time in her home.  She modeled and taught the important lessons of love compassion, and forgiveness.

Mary P. worked faithfully as a member of Trinity United Methodist Church.  As a part of the United Methodist Women, she shared her skills in culinary arts and fashion. She reigned supreme in "Mary's kitchen" each year during the annual Christmas Bazaar. She served as chairperson of the annual Spring Fashion Show. She also served on the Stewardess Board and sang on the Senior Choir.

A most impactful ministry of hers was her consummate passion for women to always be well groomed and "LOOK GOOD." After her retirement, she and her husband owned and operated Von-Lexis K's Ladies Apparel, a ladies' clothing boutique.

She was a member of numerous professional and civic organizations including, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., National Education Association, South Carolina Education Association, South Carolina Association of School Administrators, Daughter of the Elks and Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated.

Mary Alice Pressley Brown was preceded in death by her husband, Samuel Brown, parents, Cloria and Samuel Pressley, brothers, Jerome, Henry, Perry, Peter, Joe and sisters, Anita, Mildred, Louise, Rosa Lee and Alberta.  Mary leaves to rejoice in her Life Celebration and to cherish her special memories: daughter, OVita C. (Von Cedric) McAfee of Charlotte, North Carolina, a special niece reared in the home as a daughter, Bertie M. (Robert) Washington of Orangeburg, South Carolina; one grandson, Von C. McAfee II of Charlotte, North Carolina; four granddaughters, LaToya N. Washington of Atlanta, Georgia, LaTarshia M.(Darin) Johnson of Memphis, Tennesee, Alexis M. McAfee of Greensboro, North Carolina and Karrington McAfee of Charlotte, North Carolina; one sister-in-law, Grace Brown of Piscataway, New Jersey; six special nieces, Georgianna Jones of Greensboro, North Carolina, Gwendolyn Weaver of Piscataway, New Jersey, Janice Snow-Richardson of Chantilly, Virginia, Cloretta (Harry) Pressley of Nesmith, South Carolina, Pamela (Michael) Davis of Washington D.C. and Terissia Morris of Edison, New Jersey; five nephews, Joe "Jo-Jo"(Yvette) Pressley of Nesmith, South Carolina and Roy Green of Columbia, South Carolina, Vincent (Dora) Snow of Linden, New Jersey, Wesley (Cynthia) Wilson of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, Finley Brown of New Jersey; two goddaughters, Beverly Rice of Orangeburg, South Carolina and Shirley (Garry) Harrington of Hephzibah, Georgia; a special friend and former student, Minnie L. Sumpter of Santee, South Carolina; a loving and dedicated caregiver, Edna Anderson; four additional caregivers, Linda Allen, Johnnie Mae Anderson, Whitley Blanding, and Evelyn Govan; and many other loving relatives and friends, all of whom will miss her dearly.

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