Mary Jane Laurent Post

Mary Jane Laurent Post was a caring mother and grandmother; successful career woman; quirky creator of folk art needlework and decorative crafts; and enthusiastic lover of the theatre, Broadway show music and jazz.

Born in Brookville, Pennsylvania on April 8, 1929 on the eve of the Great Depression. In her early years, her parents, Mary Jane and her younger brother Robert moved often wherever her Belgian immigrant father found jobs in the glass industry, while her mother worked as a grocery store bookkeeper to help feed the family.

As World War II brought prosperity, during her high school years the family settled in West Virginia where Mary Jane spent her free time and money at the movies. She was determined to become a movie star, and upon high school graduation headed for New York City where she attended the prestigious Feagen School of Dramatic Radio and Arts at Carnegie Hall, and Barbizon School of Modeling on 5th Avenue. Her family loved her stories of New York in the late 1940’s and ‘50’s where her father took her to the Cotton Club, and she and friends gathered for picnics in Central Park and danced to the music of a portable phonograph.

With her decision to leave New York to raise a family, she began a career in retailing that spanned nearly 60 years and included positions as a buyer, merchandise manager, and small business owner. In 1966, the position of ready-to-wear buyer for Binn’s Fashion Shop brought the family to Williamsburg where she put her acting/ modeling background to use, conducting fashion shows for military and other community groups and made frequent buying trips to New York that gave her the opportunity to have Broadway backstage visits with former classmates. From 1978 when she left Williamsburg until 2009, upon her retirement at the age of 80, she held managerial positions in mall-based locations for national department stores.

She was blessed with good physical and mental health which enabled her to return to Virginia, and enjoy another 13 years of quality life experiences in retirement. All who got to know her in her later years remarked on her strong will, her determination to overcome physical challenges, and single-minded dedication to creating a supportive while challenging environment for herself and her family. She would tell all who asked that her best years were those spending time with her grand-daughters, and that re-engaging with friends from 60 years ago through the use of computers were some of life’s best gifts to her.

Mary Jane is survived by daughter, Kate Post Ferguson; and grand-daughters, Sarah Vogt (Justin) and Rebecca Ferguson. The family would like to thank the staff of Lake Taylor Hospital in Norfolk, VA for their wonderful care during Mary Jane’s final months.