Foster Ridge Road, October 18, 2020. She is survived by her wife and companion of 43 years,
Betty Jane Grant; her brother John Newberg, of Fort Wayne, Indiana; and her sister, Carol Ann
Kaatz, of Southgate, Michigan.
Mary was born July 13, 1943 in Detroit, Michigan, to parents Stanley Alfred Newberg and Elsie
Ingraham Newberg Wright. She graduated from Livonia Bentley High School in Livonia
Michigan; Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, Michigan with a bachelor degree in
education and from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan with a Master's degree in
Special Education. She taught in Wayne County Michigan public school districts for many years.
Her last position was as lead teacher at a program for Autistic students. She moved to Atlanta, Georgia in 1985 where she accepted a position with IDS Investment Company before returning to education. She worked for the Georgia Department of education Adult Learning programs.
Eventually she returned to the classroom and taught special education students in Rockdale
County, DeKalb County, and Gwinnett County schools until she retired. She had a special and
unique way with children and was greatly admired.Mary was a social, active woman deeply involved in equal rights for all. She was president of the Atlanta Chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW) and a member of several other non-profit progressive organizations devoted to equality and safety. Mary loved to travel. She was interested and often awestruck by the wonderful places she visited. Kenya,Scotland, Alaska, Antarctica, Hawaii, Mexico, The sea of Cortez, the Galapagos, Peru, and
Northern Canada where she fell in love with the small town of Churchill, Manitoba. She
traveled there three times once to snorkel with Beluga whales, then to watch polar bears wait
for the Hudson Bay to freeze over and the last time in February 2020 to see the Aurora Borealis.
Friends and family all have special memories of Mary. Some remember her musical talent
playing the piano, the coronet, and the spoons. She loved to entertain playing the spoons. She
is also remembered for being quick to laugh and love, she is considered a connoisseur of
Pimm's Cup, Dark and Stormies, really good red wine, and as an enthusiastic flash-mob dancer.
From her grandfather she inherited a love of gardening and building with wood. "Give her a
tool and she was a happy camper."From one of her best friends: “There never was a truer friend than my friend Mary”. We shared many good times. We gathered stones for our gardens in the pouring rain. We cried and Hugged on 9/11. We watched the embers of campfires fade as we drank and talked late into the
night. Hard work didn't scare her and neither did having a good time! She spoke her mind and
lived boldly! She was gentle and loving and always generous! Her inherent strength was
tempered with kindness and love. Her love lives on and will live on in so many hearts! “Here’s
to Mary! A friend, my friend brave and true!"
Memorial services will be planned at a later date when it is hopefully safer to travel and gather.
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