Mary's anointed grace as our Visual Communicator through interpretive signing never ceases to capture the attention of the audience, wherever The NCC sings. Mary's ministry makes full use of her love of music and drama, as well as her fluent knowledge of sign language.

When Mary was in the seventh grade, she became quite ill and was confined indoors. A book on the life of Helen Keller inspired Mary to teach herself the sign language alphabet and to begin to spell words. In college, she discovered a book of descriptions and began to teach herself signs. Mary honed her skills by signing hymns, since she did not know a deaf person with whom she could practice.

Later, Mary began to attend a church with a ministry for the deaf and became involved in the music program there. After interpreting for a couple of years, she took her first sign language course at Gallaudet University and heard about The NCC in a workshop on Religious Interpreting.

Mary joined The NCC in 1986 as a substitute signer, performing in two live concerts each year. In 1990, all Choir signers were auditioned, and Mary was chosen to fill the position of a full-time NCC interpreter. The choir’s video of The NCC's recording, "You Are My Hiding Place" (which is now sold out) has been televised nationally.

Mary has a master's degree in elementary education. She is a gifted teacher who has been recognized in Who's Who in American Education. Mary taught in the Fairfax Public School system until her retirement in December, 1998. She and her husband, Mark, a former member of the NCC Board of Directors, live in Woodstock, Virginia, and are members of the First Baptist Church of Woodstock. Mary serves as a traveling sign interpreter, going wherever she is needed.  Currently, she is serving a church in Haymarket, VA.

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