Source: http://www.tutorfuneralhome.com/obituaries/2015/6/8/mary-ann-mccarty-magee-ms
Mary Ann McCarty
January 7, 1923 -- June 8, 2015
Mary Ann McCarty, 92, passed away peacefully June 8, 2015 at Hospice Ministries in Ridgeland, Mississippi. She was born in Columbia, South Carolina on January 7, 1923, wife of the late Hyman F. “Mac” McCarty, Jr. and daughter of Robert Edwin Henry and Flora Timmons Henry Plummer. She was the eldest of two siblings, a wonderful wife and a loving mother who was known for her sweet energetic spirit, beautiful smile, cheerful personality and commitment to the Methodist Church. At the age of 16 she graduated from Dreher High School in Columbia, South Carolina. She continued her education at Winthrop College, now Winthrop University, in Rock Hill, South Carolina where she earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration in 1943. Mary Ann worked alongside her husband in the family owned business, McCarty Farms, for over 26 years where she was loved by all co-workers for her grace and steadfast dedication and care for others. She was a member of McCarty Enterprises, LLC and served as Secretary of The H.F. McCarty, Jr. Family Foundation. Known by many as simply “Mama Mac”, her life was truly one of constant honor, integrity and unwavering service to God, family, friends and her community.
Mrs. McCarty touched the hearts of numerous people, made a significant impact on many different segments of various communities during her lifetime and played an instrumental role in the City of Magee beginning with her relocation there in 1948. With her philanthropy, caring and dedication of time, she continued the legacy originally established by her and her late husband. She continually stated, “Work as much as you can, save as much as you can and give as much as you can… that is our family's philosophy”. God and her family were her life; however, she was able to extend that same love, devotion and loyalty to her many friends in their time of need. Mrs. McCarty was a faithful member of the First United Methodist Church of Magee where she taught Sunday School; was church membership chairman; was active in the woman's study group; supporter of all Church missions and took part in the music worship by playing the organ for many decades. Dedicated to many other church and civic organizations, she served as treasurer of the United Methodist Woman's Organization; Church historian; trustee of the United Methodist Hour board; served on the board of directors of the United Methodist Children's Home; Simpson County Fund Chairman; Simpson County YMCA and den mother for Boy Scouts of America. One organization that was very dear to her heart was Girl Scouts of America where she was a Troop Leader for many years.
In 1942 while working at the YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly in North Carolina, Mary Ann met Mac, her late husband. They quickly discovered their mutual interest in among other things, youth Christian activities and in 1943, following her graduation from college, they married. She continued her support and service by serving on the board of directors and trustees of the Blue Ridge Assembly where she was appointed the first woman president of the board. While serving on the board at Blue Ridge, she was the second recipient to receive the distinguished alumni service award of the staff. In 2011 Mrs. McCarty's support and contributions were further recognized when she was honored by Blue Ridge Assembly with the dedication of the McCarty Lodge. In addition to her other contributions in the Carolina's, Mrs. McCarty was also a charter member of the Winthrop University Foundation where she served on the board of directors. She was also a member of the Wood Junior College board of directors in Mathiston, Mississippi.
Mrs. McCarty served as president of the Sinfonia Music Club; charter member, secretary, treasurer and president of the Magee Woman's Club; on the board of the Simpson County Arts Council; an officer for the State Music Club Association; secretary of the Mississippi Federation of Music Clubs; a dedicated Magee General Hospital volunteer; an active member of the Simpson County and Magee Republican Executive Committees; secretary treasurer of the Magee Youth Center; president of the Magee School PTA and while her children were in school was an avid member and supporter of the Band Boosters Club. In 1990, she and Mac set a precedent as the first non-Jackson resident honorees of “People of Vision” recognizing their spirit of caring and giving which extended far beyond their hometown of Magee to other areas of the state and the nation. In 1997 Mrs. McCarty was the recipient of the “Spirit of Magee Award” from the Chamber of Commerce and in 2008 was inducted into Magee's Hall of Fame.
Mary Ann always received so much pleasure from volunteering her time and support to the many organizations in which she was involved including YMCA of Metropolitan Jackson, Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, Mississippi Opera, Children's Discovery Zoo and Smith-Robertson Museum of Black History. Her words were simple, “I believe everyone is capable of helping others”. This was further evidenced in her and her late husband's personal generosity in not only civic groups but also in their support of numerous educational organizations including among others Millsaps College, University of Mississippi, Mississippi State University, Rust College, William Carey College, Jackson State University and Alcorn State University. Her dedication, steadfastness and perseverance in service to the organizations in which she was involved made a profound difference in the lives of many people and the communities in which they lived. Medical research and rehabilitation services in Mississippi will forever be enhanced because of an initial gift of Mrs. McCarty and her late husband which established the Wilson Research Foundation and the Mississippi Methodist Rehabilitation Center in Jackson. In addition to their many contributions to the United Methodist Church in Mississippi, Mary Ann and Mac also established the Ordinand Program which provides scholarships for newly ordained ministers to travel to the Holy Land to study their Methodist and Biblical heritage.
Mrs. McCarty is survived by her son, John R. McCarty of Terry; her daughter, Patti McCarty Sullivan and her husband Jerry M. Sullivan, Jr. of Ridgeland; daughter-in-law, Shellye S. McCarty of Magee; son-in-law, Donald H. Flynt of Flowood; son-in-law, Terry B. Wells of Ridgeland; sister, Roberta Henry Burda of Carrabelle, Florida; twelve grandchildren, Mary Helen McCarty Griffis and her husband Judge T. Kenneth Griffis of Ridgeland; Michael Anderson McCarty of Magee; William Alexander Stevens and his wife Lauren of Nashville, Tennessee; Elizabeth Ann Buyan and her husband Greg of Jackson; Allen McCarty Flynt and his wife Dacia of Mount Washington, Kentucky; Angela Flynt Hernandez and her husband Javier of Brandon; Ashley Wells Hullender and her husband Tripp of Atlanta, Georgia; Leslie Wells Baskin and her husband Brad of Jackson; Kelly Sullivan Hirn and her husband Chad of Madison; Jerry Mack Sullivan, III of Ridgeland; Christopher Ryan Sullivan and his wife Alayna of Charleston, South Carolina; Jason Dean Brombach and his wife Nora of Oxford; twenty-two great grandchildren; faithful caregiver and housekeeper Joann Stubbs of Magee; along with numerous cousins, nieces and nephews and great nieces and great nephews, other extended family members and a great host of friends.
In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her daughters Mary Ellen McCarty, Marsha McCarty Wells and Kathy McCarty Flynt and daughter-in-law Linda McCarty.
Mrs. McCarty's family would like to recognize and give special thanks to the caregivers at St. Catherine's Village and Hospice Ministries.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Magee, Winthrop University, YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly, the Wilson Research Foundation, Millsaps College, or The H.F. McCarty, Jr. Family Foundation.
Visitation will be held Monday, June 15, 2015 from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M. at Tutor Funeral Home, 822 Simpson Highway 149, Magee, Mississippi 39111. On Tuesday, June 16th, 2015 services will commence at 2:00 P.M. at First United Methodist Church of Magee with Reverend Jimmy Harrison officiating. Interment at Magee Cemetery, 1329 1st Avenue, NE, Magee, MS.