Mary has lost her father (1979), mother (2004) and brother (2011) to suicide. Mary became involved with suicide prevention in 2004 after the death of her mother. Mary started a survivors of suicide support group in Tuscaloosa. Mary frequently speaks at various mental health functions, lecturing at social work and psychology classes at the University of Alabama, and even going on the radio to discuss the need to fight the stigma of mental illness and to encourage friends and loved ones to seek help. Mary presently serves as the Secretary for the Alabama Chapter of AFSP.