Mary Halbert Osborne was born February 26, 1941, at Columbia Hospital for Women in Washington, DC. She was the eighth of ten children born to Alton Corbett Davis and Bessie Marie Smith. She was raised in the Barcroft neighborhood of Arlington, VA, and graduated from Wakefield Senior High School.
Mary lived a full life, marked by love and family. She was preceded in death by her beloved husbands, J.D. Harrison (m. 1960), Glenn Halbert (m. 1968) and Clifton Osborne (m. 2001). She is survived by her children Glenn W. Halbert (Tina), Kathleen Marshman (Ed), and Joyce Gorden (Milton). She is also survived by her grandchildren William Halbert, Aneise Olson, Jeffrey Halbert, Nick Halbert, Eric Marshman, Sydney Olson, Kevin Marshman and Jacy Duffy, as well as 12 great-grandchildren.
Mary began her career as a secretary at the Federal Aviation Administration before serving as church secretary at Faith Baptist Church of Laurel, MD, then at Maranatha Baptist Church of Ocala, FL, where she wonderfully served the Lord and His people. Her latest service opportunities included being the secretary for the First Baptist Church Women’s Missionary Union, helping with the distribution of the Operation Christmas Child boxes, and volunteering at Christians Helping Others in Ardmore, AL. She stayed active walking the track at First Baptist Church and line dancing with the State Line Dancers of Ardmore AL/TN. She took great joy in her family and friends, and caring for the chickens, cats and dogs at home.
A service will be held for Mary’s local friends at First Baptist Church of Ardmore on Saturday, February 14, at 2 p.m. Mary will be interred at National Memorial Park in Falls Church, VA, later this month at a family service.
