Mary Jean was born in Columbia and grew up in Columbia and Myrtle Beach. Like most people in their earlier years, she gave thought as to what she wanted to do with her life when she grew up. During that time period, she aspired to become a missionary so she could provide care and support to those in less fortunate, and tell of her Christian faith to those who didn't know Jesus. Of course, she never became an official ordained missionary, but a review of how she spent her life confirm she may have, in fact, lived her life as that of a missionary.

Consider the following: For the last 55 years of her life she provided primary care for at least one special needs son. For 30 years, she was primary caregiver for two special needs sons concurrently. For thirty-three years she provided primary care for Norman Jr who required 24 hour a day assistance since he never fed or dressed himself, walked or talked.  She accepted these challenges without a single complaint and never questioned "why me". In fact, she often expressed that her sons' love and being able to care for them provided the most satisfying part of her life.

Mary Jean and Norman met in the Rose Hill sanctuary in 1962. After dating three years, they married, and three years later were parents of two boys, ages 1 and 3. In 1971, the family moved to Conway where Mary Jean began a lifetime of volunteering and serving those less fortunate than her. She immediately assisted in organizing a class for pre-school aged special needs children in a local church upon learning there were no other classes for them to attend. Then upon learning no summer program was available for these children, she began a program in her own home. Both of these programs involved several children from the community.

Shortly thereafter, she began a career of volunteerism with Special Olympics that would last almost 40 years While in Conway, she served as area coordinator for Horry and Georgetown counties. In this position, she was able to accompany athletes to state, national and international games. She continued her work with Special Olympics in Peachtree City, Ga., Columbia and Florence. During her eight years in Conway Mary Jean also became chairman of the Horry County Developmental Center for Exceptional Children, and volunteered with Volunteers in Probation. She helped organize a local chapter of the Association for Retarded Citizens and became its president. In 1977, she served as delegate to the National White House Conference on the Handicapped and received a resolution honoring her from the SC General Assembly.

About this time, Mary Jean decided to pursue a college degree. Although now in her 30s, she enrolled at Coastal Carolina University, studying Journalism and Political Science. She earned her degree in two and a half years, doing her classroom work while the boys were in school. During her senior year, she also served as editor of the college newspaper, The Chanticleer. After school she would care for the boys until Norman got home, then work a part time job with the Census Bureau.

She graduated in 1979 which turned out to be a great year for her. As Special Olympics area coordinator, she was able to accompany the SC team to the state games in Columbia and national games in New York. At the time she was also editorial writer for the Conway Field and Herald, and did articles for The Sun News and Coast magazine. She had been selected as one of the Most Outstanding Young Women in SC in 1977 and 1978, but in 1979, she was named The Most Outstanding Young Woman in SC, earning her the opportunity to travel to Washington along with the other state women.

The family moved to Columbia in 1979 and Mary Jean continued to serve others there. While in Columbia, she became an officer in a local Civitan club, served as treasurer of SC Special Olympics, and was president of Brockman School PTO. She also served her community through her memberships in Easter Seal Society, Business and Professional Women's club, and SC Arts Commission.

For 16 years Norman Jr. and Burt were involved in Vocational Rehabilitation workshops in Fayetteville, Ga. And Florence. During this time Mary Jean became familiar with and interacted with the other clients and staffs at these facilities. Several years at Christmas time, she would select a few of the less fortunate clients and take them out to lunch and on shopping trips, buying them items they needed and wanted for Christmas. After obtaining their creek house at Rose Hill, Mary Jean issued an annual invitation to the Florence workshop clients to visit the house for a day of fishing and lunch. The event grew every year and the last year it was held, participation had grown to a total of 75 clients, staff and volunteers. Several women from Rose Hill Church assisted with serving lunch.  Also, while in Florence Mary Jean served as a volunteer with Mcleod Hospice group, which involved visiting and providing care for the terminally ill, and on the Board of Directors for the Florence County Disabilities Foundation.

Norman's retirement in 2004 and a move to Columbia gave Mary Jean more time to volunteer.  Soon after the move she became a volunteer with the American Red Cross, both on the local and national level. On the local level, she would be called out at all hours of the night to comfort and provide assistance to victims of fires or other disasters. Her national service involved being away from home for 1-3 weeks at time, working all types of disasters across the entire United States. After a few years, she had to discontinue the extended trips because of health issues. During this time, she also worked limited disaster tours with Samaritan's Purse and the SC Baptist Relief program.

After moving to Columbia, Mary Jean also began working with a program designed to provide assistance to Burmese and Sudanese refugees who were being forced out of their homeland with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Mary Jean made sure these refugees had somewhere to live and basic essentials such as food and clothing, and assisted them in finding jobs. At times, she would return home with less money and clothing than she left home with.  Although this project ended several years ago, she still maintained friendships with some of the women even though they now live in faraway states.

Mary Jean has been a member of the SC Press Association and Overseas Press Association for many years. She has done freelance writing since the 1970s, having articles accepted by many local, regional and national publications. She also wrote essays, poetry and a manuscript for a book on her life. The majority of her writing dealt with the handicapped and persons with special needs, religion, and human rights causes, such as human trafficking.

Around 2009, as a writer and Christian, Mary Jean became very concerned about the events and living conditions in Kenya and Haiti. In order to minister to the suffering people there, and gather information for her writings, she planned and took mission trips to both countries. While there, she lived among the poorest, sleeping in pup tents and eating what they ate. Each day she would interact with the locals and assist in a Bible study. Upon each return trip home, her suitcases were much lighter because she left her clothes with those who needed them more.

After she decided to leave the Red Cross-National team due to health concerns, she began volunteering with Senator Lindsey Graham and the Republican party. Eventually she became one of their most respected and appreciated volunteers. Her work there was recognized by the S.C. Republican party in 2016 when they surprised her at the state convention her with their Silver Elephant award, their highest award for volunteerism.  Then in 2020, Senator Graham surprised her with a crystal award as his volunteer of the year. Mary Jean loved working with the young interns there. and believed their friendships actually prolonged her life. She continued assist to the Senator until she was no longer physically able to.

It has been a little over three years since Mary Jean found out she had stage four cancer. Not once in these three years did she ever once cry or worry over her terminal diagnosis.  When told she had cancer, the nurses in the hospital room asked why she was not crying, cursing or yelling like most people. She calmly told them she was turning the situation over to God and he would handle things.

You all know Mary Jean was always cold and never warm in her entire life. The blanket covering the coffin today went with her to every chemo session to keep her warm. It didn't take long to become known as the" Amazing Grace" blanket and Mary Jean became the 'Amazing Grace" lady. Soon word spread of the blanket and the calm Christian lady who owned it. As time went on, more and more patients would recognize the blanket and approach her to find out how her faith in God and His grace could provide her such peace. She was convinced that more than one woman was saved by getting acquainted with the the "Amazing Grace" blanket and what it stands for.

We know Mary Jean was never ordained a missionary in an official sense. However, if one looks back at the many people whose lives she touched and improved, it could be argued she did indeed achieve her childhood dream.