Mary M. Jackson

MARY Magdalene Brownson affectionately known as “OG” to her grandchildren and great grands was born on July 1, 1933 in Oxford, North Carolina. to Ellis John and Victoria Brownson. She transitioned on Thursday, April 16, 2026. Mary was the oldest of 9 children and she attended Mary Potter High School which was founded in 1889. Mary Potter High School was the first boarding high school for African Americans in Oxford, North Carolina which still stands as a historic site. After graduating Mary started her career as a private duty care giver and home health aide where she found her passion in caring for others. Her compassion and dedication to service was reflected in her spiritual life as she later went on to become an ordained minister. As a child Mary and all of her siblings lived in a big farmhouse, they grew fruit and vegetables and even made cigars. They enjoyed feeding the farm animals which in turn fed them. They also loved teasing the Bull so that it would chase them. The family also had a cow named “Daisy”. Her father made sure the family sat together every night and listened to the radio and shared stories until they fell asleep. Mary later went on to start her own journey, she met her 1st husband, John Henry Bennet, and they had two daughters, Pauline and Shirley Bennet. She then remarried, James Curtis, and they had seven children, Isabell, John, Mary Alice, Odell and Inell (twins), Bernard and Lucy Mae Curtis. From her third marriage to Aaron Jackson, Emily Jackson was born. Mary was a very loving and kind person that enjoyed traveling, spending time with her family and worshiping at The New Metropolitan Baptist Church in Baltimore, Maryland. Mary was the matriarch of her family and will be missed dearly! She was preceded in death by her parents, Ellis and Victory Brownson; children, Emily, Shirley, Mary Alice, Odell, Inell, and Isabell; siblings, Ellis, Jesse, Pensacola “Coli’’, Charles, William and Martha. Mary is survived by her children, Pauline, John, Bernard and Lucy Mae; siblings, Thelma, Alberta and Robert; three sons-in-law, Robert Johnson, Edward Dargan, and Jimmy McCullouh; 33 grandchildren and a host of great and great great-grandchildren, other relatives and friends.

Tributes

Mary M. Jackson

July 1, 1932 - April 16, 2026