Mary Ann Zachary Obituary
Mary Ann Zachary was born to the union of Ezekiel Freeman and Catherine Mayzck Freeman on April 7, 1935 in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina. Mary was second of seven children. She was affectionately known as “Sis” by her family members, and attended Olive Branch AME in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina where she received Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at an early age.
Mary received her formal education and graduated from Laing High School in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina where she sang in the Glee Club.
Mary met the love of her life Roosevelt Zachary, Sr. as pen pals. On May 23, 1957, Mary married her pen pal sweetheart, Roosevelt and there began a wonderful life journey. As a newly U.S. Army wife, they moved to Alabama, France and California. The Lord blessed the union of Roosevelt and Mary with four beautiful children: Pauletta in 1961, Sylvia in 1963, Keith in 1966, and Kenneth in 1966. In the following ten years, the family was stationed in Okinawa, Japan,\ Virginia, Germany, Nebraska and returned to settle in Sacramento, California.
In 1977, she joined and was baptized at New Home Missionary Baptist Church in Sacramento, CA under the leadership of the late Pastor Moses Gipson. She served as a Deaconess President, Choir Member President, Mission President, and Sunday School Teacher. Mary worked as a salesperson in department stores and as a teacher’s assistant at American Legion High School, (Sacramento, CA) nursery for 5 years. She attended American River Community College, (Sacramento, CA) for classes in black history and piano.
In 2005, after moving to San Diego to live with her daughter Sylvia, she joined the Mt. Erie Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor Walter G. Wells and was an active member in the Mission Department, Sunday School, and attended multiple Women 2 Women Retreats. Mary loved the Lord and read His Word daily for guidance and comfort and was inspired by Psalm 23.
Mary enjoyed sewing, traveling, crafts and maintaining her heritage art form of sewing South Carolina Sweetgrass baskets. With a love of the outdoors, she enjoyed camping and fishing with the family. In San Diego, she enjoyed the fun of attending Padre baseball games. As an adventurous traveler, she added to her international agenda Luxembourg, England, Switzerland, Austria, Mexico, Bahamas and Jamaica. As a supporter of Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park (Allensworth, CA); which she participated in the Sacramento chapter, she contributed to the Foundation and attended their annual events. As a seamstress, she would sew many wardrobes of clothing over the years. Every Sunday morning, one would see Mary wearing one of her beautiful hats- she loved wearing hats. She also cherished celebrating her milestone birthdays with family, church family and friends. Mary always had words of encouragement to uplift, and words of wisdom to steady your path.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents- Ezekiel and Catherine Freeman, her husband, Roosevelt Zachary, Sr., her daughter Paulette Zachary, her sons Keith Zachary, Sr., Kenneth Zachary and her brother Ezekiel Freeman, Jr.
Those left to treasure memories of Mary include her daughter Sylvia Zachary from San Diego, CA and stepson Roosevelt Zachary, Jr. from Los Angeles, CA. Mary also leaves her sisters Gloria Walker from Mt. Pleasant, SC and Susie Smith from Fremont, CA; her brothers Robert Freeman from Wichita, KS, George Freeman from Mt Pleasant SC, and Solomon Freeman from Charleston SC; her 2 grandsons, 2 granddaughters, 3 great granddaughters and 1 great grandson along with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, godchildren, other relatives and friends. Mother Zachary had a special place in her heart for all her daughters and sons from another mother.
A WALK-THROUGH VIEWING WILL BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30TH FROM 5PM-7PM AT ANDERSON-RAGSDALE MORTUARY. SERVICES ON THURSDAY AT 12 NOON ARE BY INVITATION OF THE FAMILY DUE TO COVID LIMITS. A LIVESTREAM LINK IS PROVIDED ON THIS PAGE BELOW.
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