Mary Perry Dorsey

I fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. ~II Timothy 4:7MARY PERRY DORSEY, eldest daughter of the late John P. Perry and the late Mary Ann Perry, was born on June 17, 1933 in Warren County, North Carolina. Known affectionately to her family as Sisterâ€, she completed her education in Warren County and graduated from Warren County Training School in 1953. Upon graduating, Mary moved to Baltimore, Maryland where she was resided with her late cousins Pearl and Ulysses Hart. â€œCousin Pearlâ€ looked after Mary as a second mother and found her employment at Ceylonâ€™s Restaurant on West Lanvale Street, where she met her husband to be, James Edward Dorsey. Mary and James were married a year later on November 20, 1954. From this union were born three children, the late Karen D. Knight, James E. Dorsey Jr. and Brett M. Dorsey. Very protective of her children, Mary insisted that they value hard work and education. As a child, Mary attended St. Stephenâ€™s Baptist Church, where she was accepted and received the Lord Jesus Christ as her personal Savior. In 1970, Mary joined Holy Temple Holiness Church of Deliverance, where her late sister Chief Apostle Julia Williams was founder and Pastor. Later, she joined Christ Deliverance Baptist Church under the leadership of Reverend Doctor Martin Jacobs. While there, Mary became a faithful member of the Missionary Board and the Inspirational Choir. Remaining a member of Holy Temple Holiness Church of Deliverance after the passing of her sister and Chief Apostle Julia Williams, Mary became the eldest Church Mother under the leadership of her Pastor, Apostle James Tilghman. Known as a prayer warrior, she was often called upon to mentor and pray for church members and others. Mary possessed a sincerely calming, loving, and affectionate spirit which was especially evident to all young children who found themselves under her care. She was respected throughout the Rognel Heights community and well-known for her wisdom and experience. Mary very much enjoyed laughing with and cooking for her family and friends. In September 2008, Mary celebrated her seventy-fifth birthday at the Great Blacks In Wax Museum where scores of her family and neighborhood friends came to commemorate this special occasion. Seven months later, on March 4, 2009, the Lord quietly called Mary home to rest in His Heavenly Kingdom. Mary leaves to cherish her memory: her husband of fifty-four years, James E. Dorsey Sr.â€™ sons James E. Dorsey Jr., and Brett M. Dorsey(Caregiver), sister Alma L. Jackson, grandson, Donald C. Knight Jr., son-in-law Donald C. Knight Sr., aunt Arlena Alston, brothers-in-law Glenn Dorsey and Stonewall Jackson, sisters-in-law Edith Hinton and Carolyn Dorsey, goddaughter Andrea Rideout, and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends. And the very god of peace sanctify you wholly, and I pray God your whole spirit And soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. -1 Thessalonians 5: 23-24

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Mary Perry Dorsey

June 17, 1933 - March 4, 2009