“Walk with me to the water’s edge when the sun and sea have met. Our shadow’s long, the day is gone, but it’s not dark just yet. A kiss and passion fills our souls, as the beauty of the night unfolded. I’ll see you in the morning right before noon, but I must bid my child farewell”. I’m sure she said to her true love who waited so patiently at the gates.
Born Mary Louise Johnson, May 28th, 1943 in Williamsburg, South Carolina to the late Richard Johnson and Trudy May Tisdale.
Growing up in Tabor City, North Carolina, Mary Louise received her early education at Tabor City Negro Elementary and after completion of grade school, she attended Douglas High School where she graduated in 1962. Mary Louise attended an HBCU, North Carolina A&T, “AGGIE PRIDE!" BULLDOGS STAND UP!! Mary Louise showed her school spirit and became a fine majorette, we were told.
Like most southerners they seem to always move to New York for a better way of life, but they always seem to forget to mention a true love and here’s where Mary’s sweetheart Henry Paschall steps in. Not knowing the timeline, but Henry and Mary Louise traveled back to Mullins, South Carolina so family and friends could witness their union. On August 12th, 1968 in Dillion County the marriage of Henry and Mary took place.
Henry Paschall preceded her in death in 1998.
Of course they returned back to New York where Mary Louise obtained employment with ADT. There she joined a bowling league and she served as their bowling champ. Moving on to years of service at Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson where she worked in the records department until her retirement in 2004.
Mary Louise dedicated her life to Christ and was a faithful member of Progressive Baptist Church in Harlem New York where she served God in several capacities, but good Lawd she had a set of soprano pipes….she SANG. Two of her signature songs she lead was Thunder and Holding On. There it wasn’t just church, but there, it was family and every Sunday was a reunion. Blood doesn’t make you family. It’s the people that pour their love into you, that’s family. It was there at PBC where she found her BFF in Lillie Tanks Martin. Along with other church members Paschall and Lil went on yearly cruises. It was at PBC she was given the job of Godmother.
At some point in her life, Paschall followed her pastor and became a member of On A Mission Baptist Church also in Harlem until she relocated to High Point, North Carolina. There in High Point, GodMary continued to serve the Lord and joined Friendship Missionary Church where she continued her singing until she moved to Concord, North Carolina with her Godchild known as her DAUGHTER Nikkole along with TJ and Jus.
Although GodMary never beared any children, she was an exceptional Godmother to Nikkole and Malasia, hence EVERYBODY knew her as GodMary. All who knew GodMary, knew she was known for her infamous honey bun cakes, nothing but a tray of caramelized sugars and her long and oversized moo-moos. GodMary was the queen of SkipBoo and Phase10. She spent her summers teaching Jai and Jus the skills of SkipBoo. Man everybody was gonna learn because she made sure we had a fresh deck every summer. At Christmas you could rest assure that the children were sure to get a pack of underwear, undershirts, Goody barrettes if you were a girl and a box of Lil Debbie honey Buns.
On June 30th, 2023 right before noon, GodMary completed her last motherly duty and bided her child farewell.
Mary Louise, GodMary, leaves to cherish her memories all her heartbeats Goddaughters; Nikkole Vaughan-Garlick (Temple “TJ” Garlick) of the home, Concord, NC and Malasia M. Martin, South Ozone Park, NY. Two GodGrands, Justin and Aziyah aka Sunshine, Five adopted GodGrands; Jailynn, Trinity, London, Cairo and Maui, her forever Pastor Rev. Dr. Walter Martin, a BFF/sister/friend Lillie (Lil) Tanks-Martin, her spiritual daughter, Niza Martin, to the original woman who gifted her a godmother, Debra Grier aka Deb (Robert Grier, her favorite uncle, Joe Scott of New Castle Delaware and One Aunt Leslie Scott of High Point, North Carolina, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family, classmates and friends.
