Mary is a native of Huntsville, Alabama, fourth of five siblings born to Emma and Otha Draper who were share cropper farmers in Madison County for a while and then became property owners, working as domestics/laborers to earn a living. A member of the class of ‘61’, Mary continued her education at Alabama A&M earning a Bachelor of Science degree. After a career expanding more than 41 years in the federal sector in various job assignments, she retired as the Director of Equal Employment Opportunity for a three-star Army command at Redstone Arsenal and locations around the globe. Mary has a passion for gardening and landscaping. She is the proud mother of two sons and Gramm to five grandsons.