Mary Harrison Beggs

Mary Harrison Beggs

June 3, 1930 – November 27, 2015

A memorial service will be held on Saturday December 5, 2015 at 12:00 PM at Little Flower Parish, 5607 Massachusetts Avenue, Bethesda Maryland 20816.

On November 26th, Mary spent her last Thanksgiving surrounded by her entire family. The next day she joined her ancestors to see the Face of God. Born the 2nd daughter of Charles Corwin and Hazel Edwards Harrison in East Orange, New Jersey, she is survived by her younger sister Pauline Millar.

Mary graduated valedictorian from Glen Ridge High School and received a full scholarship to Connecticut College. She graduated with Honors in English in 1952. Always appreciative of this gift, she continued to support her alma mater throughout her life.

On October 3, 1953 she married James M. Beggs. Together they had five children: Maureen Fox, Kathleen Beggs, Teresa Beggs, James Beggs and Charles Beggs. She was grandmother to Julia Luechtefeld, Elizabeth Fox, Thomas Luechtefeld, Nathan Fox, Benjamin Fox, Kathryn Fox, Greta Beggs, James Beggs, Caitlan Beggs and Mason Beggs. Mary and Jim were happily married for 62 years.

A youthful exuberance for English and the theater evolved into support for Washington’s entertainment venues. Closest to her heart was Wolf Trap. From its earliest years, Mary was one of the Foundation’s greatest champions. Spanning Wolf Trap’s 45-year history, she worked closely with Founder, Catherine Filene Shouse. She served on the Foundation’s Board of Directors from 1972-1979, then again from 1984-1993, for a total of 16 years. She was honored to serve as its Chairman in 1992 and 1993.

Mary never met a stranger and loved politics. She served as the chair of the Howard County Republican Central Committee in the 1960s where she directed the election for the first Republican Board of Supervisors since the Civil War. Additionally, as Chair of the Howard County Planning Commission in the late 1960s she worked to approve and guide the Rouse development of Columbia, Maryland. She was a resident member of the International Neighbors Club lll, where she served as President and numerous committee assignments. Always a volunteer she worked tirelessly for numerous charitable organizations.

Always reading, studying, and thinking, she took great joy in life. She loved her husband, her children, her grandchildren, her friends, and not at all least, her gardens. They also loved her. She will be missed.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory to the Wolf Trap Foundation or Connecticut College in New London are encouraged.