Mary Lou Douglas, the youngest daughter of Eddie Lee Johnson and Sarah Lee (Sanders) Johnson, was born October 22, 1926 in McKinney, Texas. Mary grew up in McKinney and started school in the first grade at the Frederick Douglass School and later the name changed to E.S. Doty School.
In 1936, at the age of 10, she was led to Christ and was an active and loyal member of The McKinney First Baptist Church.
Upon graduating from E.S. Doty School in May of 1944, she was offered a singing career in New York with the Wings Over Jordan gospel group but came back home because she missed the love of her parents. She was “TOP” in their lives. That’s how she got her nickname. Later she attended Bishop College.
On May 30, 1946, she married her childhood sweetheart George Milton Douglas. They were blessed with three beautiful children: one daughter, Sarah Frances Douglas and two sons, Milton Wayne and Mark Wallace Douglas.
In 1962, Mary attended Collin Memorial Hospital Nursing School and upon graduation she became a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN). She worked at Collin Memorial Hospital for over 35 years.
As the timing of the clock ticked along in life there were various involvements in her walk in life. Being an active member of The McKinney First Baptist Church, she was a member of the choir, was a Choir Director, an Usher and was on the Deaconess Board and served 10 years as Vice-President.
Under the leadership of Pastor Lee Edwards, she became one of the “Mothers” of the church. Mary Lou Douglas was an active, faithful and loyal member of The McKinney First Baptist Church for eighty-seven years until her homegoing.
On March 11, 2024 at 8:20 p.m. at her home, Mary Lou Douglas peacefully transitioned to glory. She went to live with her Heavenly Father.
Mary leaves loving memories to be cherished by her only daughter, Sarah Frances Douglas; Godson, Anthony Smith; two daughters-in-law, Lorisa Perry Douglas and Balleria Harden Douglas; one granddaughter, Breanna Douglas; three grandsons, DeMarcus Douglas (Andrea), Milton Douglas II (Sophia), and Aaron Douglas (Abbey); eight great grandchildren, Myles, Alyvia, Desmond, Julian, Emmitt, Ellis, Isla, and Iverson; three sisters-in-law, Shirley Gibson, Brenda Lewis and Maxine Marshall Glen, and a host of nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, George Milton Douglas and her two sons, Milton Wayne Douglas and Mark Wallace Douglas.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 23, 2024 at First McKinney Church. The family will receive guests for a visitation from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday evening at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home in Allen, Texas. Interment will be held at Ridgeview Memorial Park following the service.