Career
She was the first black faculty member at Middle Tennessee State University where she taught in the College of Education, and became associate dean there. Prior to this she had been a school teacher at Bradley and Bellwood schools. She was later elected to the Murfreesboro City School Board, and to the Murfreeboro City Council as the first African-American female councilperson.
Her husband, Robert West. was the first African-American elected to the Murfreesboro City Council and first African-American Vice-Mayor of the city.
Mary was born in Columbus, Georgia, and raised in Chicago, Illinois. Mary attended Knoxville College, received her bachelor"s degree from Tennessee State University, and her Master"s from Middle Tennessee State University.
Mary began her career as a school teacher, and supervisor of instruction in middle school math at Bradley & Boxwood middle schools. She then worked in the Murfreesboro City Schools Administration before being hired at MTSU"s education department as an associate professor then full professor as the first black faculty member at MTSU. She would later go on to become association dean of continuing education, and a math specialist with the Tennessee Department of Education.
She was later herself elected to the Murfreesboro City School Board, and Murfreesboro City Council as the first black woman ever elected.
After the passing of Robert "T-Niny" she took over ownership of the & Sons Funeral Home from 2000 to 2012. Her daughter, Madelyn Harris, was elected to the Murfreesboro City Council in 2010.
