Mary Jackson McCrorey (1869-1944)

Portrait by Jennifer Minnis, 2024

Mary Jackson McCrorey was an educator and activist born in Georgia. She was the first child of Alfred and Louise Jackson to be born outside of slavery. She graduated from Atlanta University and pursued further studies at Harvard University and the University of Chicago. In 1916, after marrying Henry L. McCrorey, Mary moved to Charlotte and became deeply involved in social and political movements.

McCrorey had a heart for education and fought for the rights of African-American women in Charlotte. She worked as an advisor to female students at Biddle University, chaired the Phyllis Wheatley branch of the YWCA, was on the board of the Bethlehem Center, and served as president of the African American auxiliary of the Charlotte Associated Charities. While she didn’t win a seat on the Charlotte School Board, her campaign set an example for many African-American women in local government.

Despite a tragic death in a fire in 1944, her legacy endures, particularly in her advocacy for African-American education and her trailblazing role in local government.