Those of you who know me, know what a tremendous Supremes fan I am. So, you can imagine my sadness at the recent passing of Mary Wilson, one of the groups founding members.  Mary was such an extraordinary woman.  In addition to that delicious smoky alto of hers putting feeling and power into so much music, she contributed tremendously to making the world a better place.  She and her fellow Supremes helped break down racial barriers in the 1960s and ’70s, she gave herself generously to help others through her work to protect the rights of recording artists, drew on her own experience as an abused spouse to encourage and support others in the same situation, helped at-risk young people here and abroad, acted as good will ambassador for the U.S., and supported the efforts of the Humpty-Dumpty Institute against the use of landmines.

Mary also helped so many people around her on a personal level to believe in themselves and follow their dreams to become the people they wanted to be.  She loved her children and grandchild. And she was wonderful with her fans, never treating them as beneath her.  She welcomed everyone with sincerity, graciousness, and humor.  You knew she was just as happy to see you as you were to meet her.  She had a sense of humor about herself and could tease in a way that was fun.  And she loved life, especially these last years, still singing and performing to delighted audiences, competing on on Dancing with the Stars, publishing a delightful book on the Supremes’ magnificant gowns and the stories behind them, starting her own YouTube channel, and even announcing the cd re-release of  her solo album with new and never before released material.  We’ll miss her joy and warmth, but we’ll carry her in  our hearts for all the love she gave us.  I think these lines from “Nature Boy” sum up her bond with us perfectly:  “The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to  love and to  be loved in return.”

Here’s Mary sharing her philosophy of life with us in a fairly recent release: “Life’s Been Good to Me.”

Dancing with the Stars Photo: https://dancingwiththestars.fandom.com/wiki/Mary_Wilson

Other Photos shared from web sites Mary Wilson of the Supremes:  New Ways but Love Stays; Motown 1970:  Not Just Another Record Company;  Seventies Supremes,

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