Mary E. Kinney

Mary Ellen Virginia Kinney was born on February 26, 1930 in Handley, W.VA. She was the youngest child of Wallace Rutherford Kinney and Ruth Esther Gordon Kinney.Mary was a lively, happy, brilliant and creative child. She was an expert craft person who loved to make dolls from scraps of material. This innate creativity led to her development as an expert seamstress. She also developed skill in the culinary arts, learning to cook at an early age. At age four she followed her sister to school. Because she was very intelligent the teacher allowed her to enroll. After elementary school she attended Washington High School in London, W.VA where she excelled in all subjects and graduated as an honor student in 1947.She played varsity basketball, ran track and belonged to the home economics club, the 4-H Club and she sang in the school glee club.She attended West Virginia State College, which is now West Virginia University, graduating in 1952 with a degree in Home Ecomomics. She was offered a teaching position at Saunders High School in Moorefield, W.VA and taught there for several years before being offered a position which would integrate the teaching staff at Moorefield High School. This job, however. Was fraught with controversy because some segments of the community were not comfortable with the plan. However, the plan was finally approved and Mary received a call to report to work in September. After much prayer and discussion within the family, she took the job, endeared herself to the people and prospered.Mary moved to Baltimore in the early 60’s to be nearer to her sister. She taught at Clifton Park Junior High School, Eastern High School and Pimlico Junior High School before taking early retirement in 1983 due to ill health.Mary participated in The Prime Agers Bible Study Group at Calvary Baptist Church for several years. She also volunteered her services as a seamstress at The Forest Park Senior Center. She truly enjoyed participating in these activities.Mary was baptized at an early age and was an active member of her home church Ebenezer Baptist Church. She later joined Wayland Baptist Church.She was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers, Grifford, Wallace and Joseph. Survivors include her sister Marie K. Fortune, six nieces, four nephews, four grandnephews, five grandnieces and one great nephew, one great niece and a host of other relatives and friends.

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Mary E. Kinney

February 26, 1930 - September 19, 2004