Mary Alice Grace, 1929-2019

Mrs. Grace was born April 28, 1929, in Girard, a daughter of the late James and Lucy E. Southerland Thorpe Sr.

She was a member of New Bethel Baptist Church where she served in various church organizations and was a longtime member of the Altar Guild Ministry.

She leaves to cherish her memory her loving children, McCalter (Stephanie) Jackson Jr., Bernard (Denise) Jackson, Lovie Brown, Brenda (Malcolm) Kimble and Ivan Jackson; her stepchildren, Blonda (Kevin) Poindexter, Joy (Walter) Williams, Vanessa (Cecil) Perkins, Carroll Jane Jones, Quinn Grace, Ameisha Henderson, Kim and Todd Vaughn; her siblings, Minister Ida Tharpe, Nellie Harris, Ruby (Lee Vaughn) Toney and Delores (James C.) Simmons; her goddaughter, Angela O’Mellan; a special nephew, Daniel Smith; 35 grandchildren; 69 great-grandchildren, including her cut buddy, Jasmine Cowan; 18 great-great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and dear friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Deacon Wallace Grace; her former husbands, Walter Vaughn and McCalter Jackson Sr; her brother, James Thorpe II; her stepson, Wallace Grace III; four grandchildren, Kevin M. Jackson, David Brown Jr, Marvin Thomas and Bunny Nichole Gilmore; one nephew, Leonard Rudolph; and a niece, Dionne Eldridge.

A homegoing celebration in honor of the life and legacy of Mrs. Mary Alice Grace will be held 11 a.m. Monday at New Bethel Baptist Church, Youngstown.

The family will receive friends 10 to 11 a.m. Monday at the church.

(special notice)