May 16, 1913 – January 18, 2004

by Episcopal Church Women, All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Hamlet, NC, 2016

Mary Tarry Porter was born in Vance County, North Carolina, to parents, Albin Rawlins Tarry and Mary Alston Tarry. As a young child Mary had polio. Her parents bought her a pony to ride, so she could be active as she recovered from her serious illness. Mary was left with a lifelong limp, but she never let this keep her from having an active life.

Mary always had a happy and cheerful outlook. She became an elementary school teacher and taught for 33 years. She moved to Hamlet in 1940, when she married Jack Franklin Porter, who was a Yard Master for the Seaboard Airline Railroad. She continued teaching in Richmond County schools.

Mary became an active member of All Saints’ Episcopal Church where she taught Sunday School and was involved in both the Altar Guild and the Episcopal Church Women (ECW). She served various times as ECW president.

Mary and Jack had one child, a son, John Franklin Porter, who grew up at All Saints’. A very bright young boy and a good student, Franklin graduated from both Wake Forest College and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and then became a pharmacist.

Mary loved children and the ECW at All Saints’ helped the children of Thompson Children’s Home in many ways. As a group the ECW would adopt one of the cabins, then members would always remember the birthdays of the children residing in that cabin. ECW members lovingly called Mary “The Mother” of the children they adopted. Mary was also in charge of the parish Christmas pageant and she considered it a special joy to get to work with the children at Christmas time.

In other parish activities Mary was a member of the Wednesday afternoon prayer group. She also served many times on the Moncure Trust Fund as Chair Person to oversee the work with Social Services and other organizations helping those in need, especially the elderly.

Mary was a loving and caring person. When Margaretta Sanford, an All Saints’ member who had no family of her own, became ill, Mary came to her aid and took charge to see that she got the proper care at the nursing home where she resided.

After Mary and her son passed away, All Saints’ honored them by installing two beautiful stained glass windows in the sanctuary of the church.