Mary Wilkerson Obituary

Mary Elizabeth Wilkerson, born in Washington D.C. on November 8, 1956 to Marjorie Lou Waggoner Wilkerson and Hylton Ellis Wilkerson, died peacefully in her home on June 3, 2024 with her four loving children by her side. Mary fought a remarkable two-and-a-half year battle with cancer. Mary's grandmother was the first businesswoman in Vienna, owning her own business, Gladys S. Waggoner Ice and Fuel Company. Mary's parents Hylton and Marjorie Wilkerson began their commercial painting business in Vienna, Wilmar Contractors, Inc., for which Mary worked when she was younger.

After spending the first nine years of her childhood growing up in Vienna, Mary, the youngest of four girls, grew up with her parents in Fauquier County in the home they had lovingly restored, Belle Grove. Mary attended Marshall Elementary, Marshall Junior High until the fire closed the school, and then graduated from Fauquier High School. Mary was accepted to the University of Virginia - the "Ivy League of the South" - and attended for a year and a half before returning home, working locally, and eventually marrying and starting her own family, at which time she returned to Vienna.

Mary worked diligently her entire life. Continuing her family's tradition, she established her own business in Vienna in the mid 1990s, Vienna Massage Therapy, LLC. As she was now a sole parent, Mary wanted to remain at home while working, so that she could also raise her four children. To achieve this, she worked with local and state officials to change the laws in order to permit operating a massage therapy business out of a home office. Mary was a pioneer in opening up massage therapy as a legitimate profession, working with elected officials to remove discriminatory laws against massage therapy. She was an inspiration to all who knew her.

Mary was very active in her community, serving 10 years on the Town of Vienna's Community Enhancement Commission, six of those years as Chair. Mary served as the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) Legislative Committee Chair, and was also active in the Vienna Chamber of Commerce.

Mary's dedication to her community continued as she returned to her family land in Fauquier County. Mary served her community tirelessly, serving on the Board of the Marshall Business and Residents Association since 2009, many of those years as President. Dedicated to the people and faithful in doing what is right, Mary sacrificially fought for her community.

In recent years, Mary further expanded her efforts by working for Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), an organization dear to her and to which her connection dates to the 1980s, when Mary began homeschooling all four of her children, K-12, providing them a loving and rich education.

Mary is survived by her beloved children, sons W. Michael Wilkerson (wife Rebecca) and Daniel Ellis Wilkerson, daughters Stephanie Fried (husband Greg) and Mary-Elizabeth Wilkerson, as well as four precious grandchildren.

The family will receive friends and visitors from 5:00 - 7:00 PM on Sunday, June 9, at Hall Funeral Home, 140 S. Nursery Ave., Purcellville, VA 20132. Funeral services will be held at 2:30 PM on Monday, June 10, at Cornerstone Chapel, 650 Battlefield Pkwy SE, Leesburg, VA 20175 and live streamed at www.youtube.com/@ccfunerals. Burial will follow at Marshall Cemetery, Marshall, Virginia.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of flowers or contributions to the Marshall Business and Residents Association, P.O. Box 533, Marshall, VA 20116 or HSLDA, PO Box 5000, Purcellville, VA 20134, Check memo: Wilkerson - Memory Gift.