Mary Banks Morris Salter. 84, passed away Wednesday, October 4, 2023 in Moulton, Alabama. Mary was born February 26, 1939 to J.M. and Jala Ruth Morris in Millport, Alabama where she grew up. While in high school Mary was a member of the cheerleading squad as well as the Homecoming court. Soon after graduating high school in 1956 she moved to Birmingham, Alabama where she enrolled in the Birmingham School of Business, which was pioneering at the time as it was not customary for women to complete this type of program. Immediately after graduating she went to work for the top executives of Southern Bell in Birmingham where she met Tom Salter, who she would later marry.
Soon after marriage, she moved with Tom to Durham, North Carolina where she would work for the Associate Dean of the Duke University School of Divinity. Her employment there was groundbreaking because under rules of the University at the time, spouses and family members of current students were not permitted to work with such sensitive information about other students but because of her outstanding work history and references from the executives of Southern Bell, she was granted exception to the rule by the President of Duke University. She would continue to work there until Tom graduated at which time they decided it was time to move back to Alabama to be closer to family.
Not long after moving back to Birmingham, she and Tom would welcome their first of 4 children and Mary would begin the next chapter of her life in the supportive role of minister’s wife and mother.
After years of devotion to her family she reentered the workforce and held key positions at Weight Watchers and Universal Construction from where she ultimately retired.
The next chapter of her life was spent traveling, supporting church activities, and lavishing her love and affection on her family, friends, and her grandchildren that soon followed.
Her love and memory will live on in those that knew and loved her, mostly by her survivors who include her husband of 63+ years, Thomas Aubrey Salter of Decatur, Alabama; her 4 children Timothy Alan Salter (Alice) of Decatur, Alabama; Mary Carol Salter Karrh (Tim) of Decatur, Alabama; John Morris Salter of Mt Juliet, Tennessee; and David Vance Salter (Vince) of Nashville, Tennessee; Grandchildren William Dale Karrh (Maisey) of Decatur, Alabama; Riley Allan Salter (Emma) of Auburn, Alabama; Thomas Andrew Salter of Decatur, Alabama; Jala Elizabeth Karrh Voorhees (Ben) of Decatur, Alabama; Brittany Cayla Salter of Mt Juliet, Tennessee; Jackson Windle Salter of Florence, Alabama; and Braxton Cody Salter of Nashville, Tennessee; great grandchildren Ross Aubrey Salter and Gwen Rose Salter, both of Auburn, Alabama.
Mary was preceded in death by her younger brother, Edgar Titus Morris, and her parents J.M. Morris and Jala Ruth (Cash) Morris all of Millport, Alabama.
A visitation will be held at The Church at Stone River, a United Methodist Community in Decatur, Alabama on Friday, October 6, 2023 from 12:00-1:30.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.roselawnfhandcemetery.com for the Salter family.
