Mary Elizabeth Fountain

Mother Mary Elizabeth White Fountain was the only child born to Mamie and Zelma White in Tallulah, Louisiana on September 6, 1920. At the age of 11, Mary’s mother passed and she was raised by her grandmother. At a young age, Mary found Christ and believed that the Lord could do anything but fail. Mary attended Wright Elementary and graduated from Reuben McCall High School. She attended Southern University in Baton Rouge for two years.

After college, Mary returned to Tallulah where she married Walter T. Webster Sr. in 1939. Out of that union six children were born. They later divorced.

Mary Fountain married William Marle Fountain in 1952 and out of that union was born five children. During the Civil Rights era, she was the first African American woman hired in Maxy Levy Department Store in Tallulah, Louisiana. The boycott that occurred throughout the South included the shutting down of Tallulah. As a result, Mary started selling insurance. Later in 1966, Mary moved her family to Las Vegas for a better life. After moving to Las Vegas, she was hired at the Silver Slipper Hotel on the Strip. Mary was a fighter of injustice. She was discriminated against at the Silver Slipper, filed a lawsuit and won a monetary settlement. She later left the hotel industry and was hired at Southern Nevada Memorial Hospital as a Central Supply Tech. Mary retired after 20 years.

Mary joined Victory under the leadership of Rev. A.J. Thompson. In October 1997, she left Victory and was one of the co-founders of One Body in Christ Church under the leadership of Pastor Don Burse and Minister Eva Whaley and remained a member until her death.

Mary was a very independent and proud woman. She had class, style, and grace. She was a woman of great faith. She truly believed that her God could do anything but fail. She would always say you need to pray whenever you had a problem.

Mary had a passion for cooking. Some of her outstanding dishes; spaghetti, gumbo, and mustard greens. Her amazing desserts; gingerbread, chocolate cakes, lemon and chocolate pies. She was a fantastic cook.

Mary had a fierce love for basketball. She loved the Runnin’ Rebels when Jerry Tarkanian coached. After Tarkanian’s departure she focused on the NBA. Oh yeah, she couldn’t stand Duke. Her first favorite team was the San Antonio Spurs, as long as Tim Duncan played. Then she became a Stephon Curry/Golden State Warriors fan. She would argue with the best of them regarding the Warriors. The rest is history.

She was preceded in death by parents Mamie and Zelma White, her daughters, Wally Jones and Delores Webster; and sons, Adrian Webster and Vernon Ray Webster.

Mary leaves to mourn her children; Walter Webster, San Antonio, TX Patricia (Sherman) Metcalf, San Diego, CA; Ava (Aubrey) Campbell and Ernest (Pam) Fountain, of Houston, TX; Marcia (David) Washington; Debra (Joseph) Scott and William (Denise) Fountain, all of Las Vegas; 24 grandchildren, 41 great grandchildren; 7 great-great grandchildren and a host of relatives and friends.