Mary Elizabeth Harkins

Mary Beth was born October 30, 1940, in Kansas City, MO, to Dr. and Mrs. Ralph R. Wilson. During her formative years, she attended Sunset Hill School and The Barstow School for Girls, both of which she adored. In the summertime she enjoyed long visits with her mother’s extended family in Little Rock, AR - the place she eventually considered home. Following the deaths of Mary Beth’s parents, her uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. E. DeMatt Henderson of Little Rock, took her in as their own daughter.

Following a year at Wellesley College, Mary Beth chose the University of Arkansas and enthusiastically studied History. She accepted a bid to Chi Omega, eventually serving as the founding chapter’s President her senior year. At the University, Mary Beth not only rocked to Ronnie Hawkins & The Hawks, but also forged several dear bonds which sustained her throughout her life.

After leaving Fayetteville, Mary Beth worked in administrative positions in Little Rock. When an opportunity arose, she moved to Washington, D.C. to become a receptionist for Arkansas Rep. Wilbur Mills, then-Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. In Washington, she shared a classic Georgetown townhouse with several other young women, and she thoroughly enjoyed mixing and mingling with people from all over the country.

Mary Beth always remembered her Washington years fondly, and she delighted in telling her children and grandchildren stories from that time. She was fascinated by the legislative process for the rest of her life. The latest annotated C-SPAN congressional guide lived in a drawer under the kitchen TV for years.

It was in Washington that Mary Beth met a staffer for Mississippi Rep. Sonny Montgomery named Nick Harkins. In April of 1969, the two married in Little Rock, and they moved to his hometown of Jackson to launch his law career.

A stranger in a new town, Mary Beth jumped into community life with both feet. She became a dedicated member of the Junior League of Jackson, where she would later earn appointment as Editor of The Tattler magazine. She made new friends through the local Chi Omega alumnae association, as well. When Mary Beth and Nick welcomed their two children, Betsy and DeMatt, she settled in to her chosen role as the family’s caregiver, smiling hostess, and selfless volunteer.

Perhaps most importantly, upon relocating to Jackson, Mary Beth joined St. Andrew’s Episcopal Cathedral - her spiritual home, source of special relationships, and resource for rewarding service activities. At St. Andrew’s, she held several internal and outreach roles for decades at a time. This included cooking with the Meals on Wheels team for over 30 years, serving faithfully on the Altar Guild, tutoring at Rowan Middle School, and mentoring displaced Sudanese resettling in Jackson. Most visibly, Mary Beth taught 1st-grade Sunday School for over 20 years, enabling many children to take a turn tempting Eve with one of Nick’s socks, adorned with two button eyes and a forked tongue.

Mary Beth and Nick were involved in multiple charitable efforts in support of each of their faith communities, their children’s school, and the Jackson community. While the children attended St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, Mary Beth was a steady presence volunteering in multiple capacities, most notably as President of the Parents’ Association. A favorite project of hers was doting on the football team. During DeMatt’s tenure, she coordinated pre-game meals and prepared hundreds of sandwiches for the boys’ bus ride home. Beyond SA, Mary Beth volunteered for the Jackson Friends of the Library and served as “den mother” for masters of education candidates teaching in area Catholic schools through the Alliance for Catholic Education program.

Mary Beth relished her friends and never tired of socializing. Her Sheffield area neighbors were loyal companions, when not only helping each other through life’s twists and turns, but also when marking celebrations. Additionally, she belonged to two local social clubs for decades, the Les Joueuses Luncheon Club and the Heritage Antiques Club.

As Nick rose through the ranks of his national professional associations, they traveled extensively and developed cherished friendships with other members and their spouses. But Mary Beth could make conversation with, and charm, anyone. She loved chatting with fellow shoppers in the produce aisle, engaging with seat partners on airplanes, and learning about the children and grandchildren of her caregivers. On trips, she could reliably rescue the family from sticky wickets with her soft voice and sweet smile.

Mary Beth valued hospitality, and she cultivated a home in which there was always plenty for everyone to eat and a comfortable place to sit. Over the years, she hosted Harkins family holidays, Nick’s law firm gatherings, birthday parties for children and friends, as well as a graduation party for DeMatt’s fraternity pledge class and their families.

She and Nick hosted multiple Notre Dame Club of Mississippi parties, during which she cheered the Irish to victory, sent off new freshmen, and even welcomed the entire Glee Club - who not only sang, but also celebrated a mass in the Playroom.

Mary Beth loved to laugh. Hard. She also possessed a limitless fascination with history, art history, world travel, ornamentation, decorative horticulture, and general festoonment. But more importantly, she was interested in you. What all have you been up to? And how are your parents?

Mary Beth savored a huge party, especially lively wedding receptions. So much so, she would pop into any she encountered. Anywhere in the country. What sorts of flowers do you think they have? She did have an eye for that kind of thing. After all, she delighted in her camellias, azaleas, and most notably her signature pansies.

Not to mention, at any opportunity Mary Beth boogied to Elvis, Patsy Cline, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Supremes, Willie Nelson, The Bee Gees, and ABBA.

She was eternally positive and supportive, despite suffering several obstacles throughout her life. Kindness, forgiveness, and empathy were her defaults.

Whenever you see pansies, please think of Mary Beth.

Mary Beth was predeceased by her husband of 47 years, Patrick Nicholas Harkins III; parents Ralph Rust Wilson and Betsy Henderson Wilson Ferguson; aunt and uncle Edgar DeMatt Henderson and Janis Lewis Henderson; parents-in-law Patrick Nicholas Harkins, Jr. and Ruth Gammon Harkins; brother Ralph Rust Wilson II; brother Thomas Henderson Ferguson; and sister-in-law Harriet Ann Bryson Harkins.

Mary Beth is survived by her children and their spouses: Elizabeth Glenn Halstead (Michael) of Chester, NJ and DeMatt Henderson Harkins (Jane) of Jackson, MS; grandchildren Brendan Patrick Halstead, Lucy Elizabeth Halstead, and Annie Mae Harkins; sisters-in-law Dorothy Harkins Lehew, Mary Thomasine Harkins, and George Ann Wilson; brother-in-law Paul Keith Harkins; and numerous nieces and nephews who remember Mary Beth’s generous spirit and delicious holiday meals.

Her family would like to acknowledge and extend their deepest gratitude to all of those involved in her care: the entire team at The Blake at Township; the staff of Southern Medical Consultants, especially Heather Silverii, NP; the entire team at Covenant Caregivers; the entire team at The Arbor; the nurses and aides of AccentCare Hospice; Ashley Parker of Compassionate Consulting; and the other members of her medical team, especially Dr. Kathy Gregg.

A service to celebrate Mary Beth’s life will be held at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Cathedral at 11:00 am on Friday, January 3rd, with a visitation preceding the service beginning at 9:00am. A graveside service will follow at Lakewood Memorial Park at 2:00pm, where she will be laid to rest next to her beloved husband, Nick. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial gifts be made to The MIND Center at UMMC or the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Also, please feel free to plant some pansies while it’s still cold.