Mary McMillan

Mary McMillan was born February 26, 1942 in Aiken, South Carolina, the first daughter and second child born to Grace and William Robinson Sr. at the early age of 4 years old, her parents and oldest brother left the segregated south and moved up north to New York City, for a better life.

Mary accepted Christ at a young age and was baptized at Emmanuel Presbyterian Church of the lower east side of Manhattan, then converting over to Baptist, where she would attend Bethany Baptist and Mt. Zion Baptist of Jamaica, NY with her grandmother, Ora and her Aunt Sally.

Mary was educated in the New York City Public School system. She concluded her public school education when she graduated from Washington Irvin High School the Class of 1960.

After graduating from High School, she went right to work, making a living for herself. Her first job was a Barista at “Chock Full O’ Nuts” where the legendary Jackie Roosevelt Robinson was a Vice President.

In 1963, Mary attended a party giving by a co-worker and friend, where she met and dated Mr. William Jasper McMillan. After a few months, of dating, on May 23rd, 1964, they were married. They started their family the following year with their first born son, Douglas and then 5 years later, their second born son, Mark. After 20 years of marriage, William was taken home to be with the Lord on February 24th, 1985.

After having her two children, she went back to work. She was referred by her landlord, Mrs. Doris Johnson, a job to work at the New York Telephone Company. The company changes names three times in her 30 years of service, NY-TEL, NYNEX, Bell Atlantic and now Verizon. She retired in 1998 after 30 years of service.

Mary was smart, hardworking, and determined that’s why while working for the phone company, she attended Queens College, where she received her certification in Office Management.

She was loved and well liked by people of all ages. She was called a lot of different names, for example, Mama Mary, Ms Mary and her telephone company colleagues would call her Mac, Mary Mac of McMillan. She was truly a blessing to a lot of people and will be truly missed.

She leaves to cherish her memories: two children, Douglas Steven McMillan (Tammy) of Westbury, NY; Mark Anthony McMillan, of Gilbert, AZ; one daughter-in-law, Ada Elizabeth McMillan, two grandchildren, Sean Anthony McMillan (My Baby) and Tre Matthew McMillan (Boochie), both of Gilbert, AZ, one sister, Ms. Carol Robinson of Flushing, NY, two brothers, Mr. Phillip Robinson (Joseph) of West Roxbury, MA and Charlton Palmer (Kathy) of Bellrose, NY, two aunts, Mrs Mary Stalworth (Robert) of Aiken, SC, MS Betty Early of Atlanta, GA, one uncle, Mr James Graves of Jamaica, NY and a host of other relatives and friends.