Mary Wallace was officially born on January 2,1923 in Aiken, SC. (even though she thought for many years she was born on January 3rd) and until her death her birthday was celebrated on the 3rd. She passed away peacefully at the age of 102 on January 13, 2025. She was the third oldest of seven children born to Charles and Ivy Collins. Her siblings David, Walter, Ann, Pearline, Charles, and Ardelia preceded her in death.

She attended the Mt. Harris School in Aiken and at the age of 12 she became a member of the Mt. Harris Baptist Church. At the age of 14 her mother passed away and out of necessity and love she took on the role of caring for her younger siblings. When her father died she was newly married and living in New York. Immediately following his funeral service in Aiken she packed up her youngest siblings, Charles and Ardelia, and brought them back to New York to live with her. She took care of them until they were old enough to be on their own.

At the age of 18 she married her childhood sweetheart, Jesse Bowman, whom she met while they were picking cotton as youngsters. Before he joined the Army they moved to New York. After the war he returned home and they were blessed to have a daughter. According to Mary their baby was named Jessica, not after her father, Jesse, but after a little girl with the name on a soap opera she enjoyed listening to on the radio. They lived in Brick Town, an area in Queens, NY. This union ended in divorce, however, they remained friends until his death.

In 1974 Mary married her longtime companion, Archie Wallace. Mary was also blessed with three bonus children when she and Archie married, Nicki and Steven (deceased) and Randi.

They moved to a home in Jamaica, NY and when his job relocated to New Jersey they moved to an apartment in Newark. She absolutely hated it and was terrified of taking the elevator. She never liked living there and being away from her family in New York and would come back every weekend to visit them. In 1967 they returned to New York for good and bought a home in Queens Village where she lived until her death.

In 1967, she became a member of the Hollis Presbyterian Church. Mary was an active member and loved her church family. She served as an Elder, a deacon, and was involved in many committees including Outreach, especially the HPC Homeless Shelter Program (she volunteered every weekend for two years in setting up the beds for our guests, preparing meals, including 6AM Sunday breakfast before they left to return to their shelter in Manhattan, and sorting laundry in preparation for the next week), CIRF (Capital Improvement Relief Fund), Building and Grounds and was the January Co-Captain of the Harvest Rally, an annual church fundraiser, and an active member of the Women’s League. She was recognized as Woman of the Year and presented with a beautiful gold rose on her 100th birthday as the church celebrated its 100th Anniversary. She was recognized by the New York Presbytery for her tireless work and dedication. Prior to her passing, she was the oldest living member of HPC.

Mary was also involved in community service and served as the Chair of Membership for the “OUR Neighborhood Improvement Association”. She helped coordinate bus trips to Mets games at Shea Stadium for the neighborhood children and block parties. She was also known throughout the neighborhood for her amazing yard sales.

In addition to being a proud and loving mother, she was overjoyed being a grandmother to her granddaughter, Lisa, who blessed her with three great-grandchildren, Christopher, Brian and Ciarra. She affectionately became GiGi, not only to the kids but to everyone. With the recent births of Christopher’s daughter, Cori, and Brian’s son, Bakari she became a great-great grandmother.

At home Mary was so happy to have a yard where she could plant flowers, and even pull weeds and water the grass early in the morning, and chat with her neighbors as they passed by.

Her home was always the place where family members gathered for Sunday dinners and holidays. She was an excellent cook but also known for her exceptional baking skills. Her pound cakes were especially famous among family, friends and church members.

In addition to her pound cakes, she would bake and sell peach cobbler, chocolate cake, brownies and cookies at her great-grandchildren’s school to support the school’s fundraisers. She also loved selling her baked goods at the churches’ annual street fairs.

Mary was also a very gifted crafter and made beautiful silk floral arrangements for weddings, luncheons and people’s homes. She also enjoyed puzzles and word search challenges.

Mary had a great sense of humor, too, and loved a good joke. She loved music, especially the big bands, and old movies - On the Waterfront and Casablanca were favorites. She loved to travel and especially enjoyed cruises to the Caribbean, a cross-country bus tour with members of the church, and family vacations during the summer in Lake George, Martha’s Vineyard and Niagara Falls.

She worked for many years at the Ideal Toy Company inspecting the production of dolls that included the famous Betsy Wetsy and Saucy Walker. She later retired from AK Allen, an engineering company in Mineola, where she worked as a Quality Control Inspector.

She always believed in the importance of making a positive first impression and was an amazing role model, she carried herself with dignity and class. Her home was her castle and she was the Queen. Everyone was welcomed and received with a hug.

Mary lived her life dedicated to helping others, offering love and kindness to all who knew her. She truly lived by the creed, “You give but little when you give of your earthly possessions. It is when you give of yourself that one truly gives.”

She has left to mourn her passing, her daughter Jessica, granddaughter Lisa, great-grandchildren, Christopher (Stephanie), Brian (Monet) and Ciarra, great-great grandchildren, Cori and Bakari.

Bonus daughter Randdi (Danny), and bonus grandchildren Tracey, Robert “Brian”, Dwayne, David, Nadirah and Cheryl, her late sisters’ children, Cecile “Buttons”, Thomas “Buzzy”, and Kevin “Champ”, and a host of nieces and nephews, her beloved church family, friends and neighbors.

Mary has now been reunited with her beloved husband Archie who departed this life in 1998. Mary once shared that she knew one day she would find rest with the Lord. She was a faithful servant and truly earned her crown.