Mary is a native of Tuscaloosa.

She graduated from the University of Alabama with a B.S. in Nursing in 1986. She received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Alabama School of Law in 1989.  She is also a graduate of Gerry Spence’s Trial Lawyer’s College and the National Criminal Defense College.

Mary taught Trial Advocacy at the University of Alabama School of Law from 1995-2019.  She served as president of the Tuscaloosa County Bar Association in 2019.  She is a member of the Alabama State Bar, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Alabama Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, and the Volunteer Lawyers Program.

Mary started a survivors of suicide support group in Tuscaloosa that meets monthly to help loved ones who lost someone to suicide. Mary serves on the boards of the Alabama Chapter of the Alabama Chapter of American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the Kristen Amerson Youth Foundation Board, Hank Poore Foundation, is the Chapter Advisor for the Zeta Chapter of Kappa Delta and is the Chairperson for the City of Tuscaloosa Personnel Board.

Mary and her family are members of Northwood Church of Christ in Northport, AL