Mary Rosa Martin Pittman was born in New, Albany Indiana to Theodore and Beatrice Martin on November 28, 1928 into a family that would include two brothers and four sisters. Mary graduated from Central High School in Louisville Kentucky.
Mary was joined in holy wedlock to Frank Pittman Jr. and moved to Akron, Ohio. Four children were born to this union. Mary went on to complete her college education earning Bachelor and Master degrees in education from the University of Akron. She taught third grade at Robinson Elementary School and became a guidance counselor at Goodrich Jr. High School followed by Garfield High School. She remained in the field of education for thirty-two years retiring in 1991. Education was very important to Mary and Frank and all of their children received college educations ranging from associate to graduate degrees.
As a member of many professional organizations, including the National Association of Counselors, Ohio Association of Women Deans, Counselors and Administrators, the board of Summit County Mental Health and panel member of the United Way as well as Chairperson for Volunteerism, she was a well-known and respected colleague.
Mary also enjoyed many outside interests and hobbies throughout her life. She was a Girl Scout Leader, a Gold Star member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, and a charter member of the National Museum of African Historical Culture. Mary had been baptized at a young age and served the church in many capacities. She was a member of St. John’s Christian Episcopal Church of Akron, Ohio. Extensive reading of biographies, poems, spiritual literature and novels was a favorite pastime, but her favorite book was the Bible.
Travel was richly enjoyed by Frank and Mary as they visited many countries a number of times. Asia, Europe, South America, North America and Africa were five continents visited leaving only Australia and Antarctica on the “To Do” list. They made many new friends through travel and have maintained those relationships over the years.
Mary and Frank moved to Surprise Arizona in 2004. Mary became a member of the Women Putters and Women’s Bible Study Group. Mary was predeceased by her parents, Theodore and Beatrice Martin, son, Derrick Theodore Pittman, brothers, Alexander Conn and Charles W. Martin, and sisters, Hattie M. Brown, Dorothy Porter, and Ruth A. Briggs.
She leaves to mourn her passing, husband, Frank Pittman Jr., Sons, Frank Pittman III (Marcia), Aaron Bruce Pittman, and daughter Debra Patrice Pittman French (Gerone), sister, Elva Robinson. She also leaves five special grandchildren, Lisa Renee Sheppard Floyd, Angela Nicole French-Bell, Gerone Pittman French (Clarice), Linda Kay Pittman Daniels (O’Dell), and Philip Brandon French.
Mary will be greatly missed by grandchildren, great grand-children, friends and relatives.
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