Mrs. Mary Stephens Dansby

Celebration of Life Service for Mrs. Mary Stephens Dansby, of GA, will be Saturday, April 20, 2024, at 1:00PM; Big Bethel AME Church, 220 Auburn Ave., Atlanta, GA 30303.

Interment: Lincoln Cemetery.

A public viewing will be Friday, April 19, 2024, from 5:00PM - 7:00PM at the funeral home. Final arrangements entrusted to Willie A. Watkins Historic West End Chapel. (404) 758-1731.

Mary Eloise Stephens Dansby was born in Atlanta, Georgia on January 13, 1927 to the Late William R. Stephens and Freddie Mae Stephens. She was the third child and oldest girl of six siblings, 3 boys and 3 girls. Growing up on Griffin Street on the southwest side of Atlanta, Mary graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in 1942. She went on to graduate from Spelman College in 1946 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Studies.

Mary began her career as a teacher with the Atlanta Board of Education. Motivated by her pursuit of academic excellence, she attended Columbia University in New York City for three summers and earned her master’s degree in education in 1951. Mary taught at numerous elementary schools including Bush Mountain, Walker Street and Collier Heights.

A devout Christian, Mary was a lifelong member of Big Bethel AME Church on Auburn Avenue and very active with the Usherette Board #3 ministry. It was there where she met and married her loving husband, Oscar Marion Dansby Jr. in 1958.  Together they built a home in the Caron Circle / Peek Road neighborhood in the historic Collier Heights community.  Mary gave birth to a son, Oscar Fredric in 1965. In 1985 she retired after working for 38 years with the Atlanta Public School System.  She was the first African American to become a member of the Atlanta Chapter of the Freedoms foundation at Valley Forge. Her leadership at Collier Heights Elementary in the Foundation’s patriotism competition won the school the George Washington Honor Medal.

Always the positive community role model, Mary was active for many years with the Atlanta Juvenile Rehabilitation program where she ministered and encouraged numerous adolescents in making a U-turn from a life of crime and inspiring them to start a new journey towards a positive and productive future. She enjoyed taking classes at the Harriett Darnell Senior Center. Her recreational activity included being a fervent prayer warrior for her church’s morning prayer group, occasionally playing the piano, singing, and cooking her famous Watergate salad and pound cake for many families and friends.

Mary lived in Atlanta for over 90 years before moving to Virginia Beach in 2018 to be near her son, daughter in-law, and three grandchildren.  On the morning of April 6, 2024, shegained her heavenly wings surrounded by her loving family.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Oscar, father, mother, two sisters, and three brothers.  

She leaves behind to cherish her memory: a son – Oscar Fredric-Stephens Dansby (Sandy), three devoted grandchildren –Brianna, Cathryn, and Benjamin, sister-in law – Williene Dansby, and a host of nieces, nephews, friends and caregivers.Mary Paul, Shenequa Gilchrist and Shauntiana Kellam were her dedicated caregivers over the last six years and loved on her until she went home to be with the LORD.

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