Mary Schmidt

Mary Anna Elizabeth Schmidt, 99, of Waxhaw, North Carolina, and just nine months shy of her 100th birthday, went to be with her Lord and Savior, Saturday, March 16, 2013. She was born to Ida and John Henry Gloss on November 23, 1913 on Bentalou Street in West Baltimore. Her father, a paint salesman for Athey's Paints, was killed in an auto accident when Mary was twenty-one years old. At that time Mary took on the responsibility of being the family breadwinner working in a city department store in downtown Baltimore. She was the sole and beloved sister of the late Augusta (Sis) Gregory, wife of the late Amos J. Gregory, Jr. Mary was an active teen in the young adults fellowship of Saint John's Evangelical Church of Frederick Road (now in Catonsville, MD) where she met and fell in love with her husband to be, William C. Schmidt of the same church. They were involved in numerous community projects and dramatic stage productions of the church and city. Both were of unprivileged and struggling families. Years later, after the birth of her first two children, William Jr., Carol, Bill and Mary were led to personal faith in Jesus Christ as Savior through the outreach of her sister's family and the new Halethorpe Community Church, Baltimore, MD. Timothy was born in 1947. She and husband Bill were deeply involved in the beginning of Halethorpe's family Sunday School ministry, where she taught children for nearly 40 years and created curriculum for the children's church program, while Bill was assistant Sunday School Superintendent, and later teacher of a large Adult Couples Bible Class. In addition, she and Bill were very active for many years in Evangelism Explosion, a program of visitation evangelism, which brought many families to know Christ and into the life of the church. No church dinner was complete without one of Mary's "to die for" apple pies. She used to tell young brides, "You don't have to be a fabulous cook to be known as one. I am not. You only need to make one thing well, and bring that to the church dinner. You'll be known as a wonderful cook." Never one to shirk hard work, Mary worked at her husband Bill's side for nearly 40 years in their "Schmidt's Meats" business at Hollins Market in West Baltimore, where she always saw to it that there was a large Bible verse prominently on display. Women shoppers loved her for her frank honesty, telling them of ways to save money by opting for cheaper cuts. As a result, she had a large and loyal clientele. In a time of financial hardship, she even worked full time as a solderer at Westinghouse during the early years of the space race. All three of her children attest that it was her testimony and witness that drew them to Christ. She led each of her children to him at an early age, urging them to consider full time ministry as a vocation. All three walk with Him today! In 1999, after just under than fifty years living in the same house on Old Frederick Road in Marriottsville, Howard County, Maryland, Mary and Bill moved to Waxhaw, NC to live with daughter Carol and her husband Dean, and to be near son Bill, Jr. and his wife Eunice in Charlotte, NC. After only two years there, Mary's husband, Bill, went suddenly to be with his Savior in September of 2001. Also preceding Mary in death is her grandson, Steven Schmidt, and her great granddaughter, Aston Sweet. Mary's immediate family includes her three children, Carol Jordan, Bill Schmidt, Tim Schmidt, and their spouses; five grandchildren, and 13 great grandchildren. * For those that may make a gift in honor of Mary, here are a few of her favorite charities: Her local church: Covenant Baptist Church in Lancaster, SC International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (envelopes will be available at the memorial service at Covenant Baptist Church March 24th) Baltimore School of the Bible Help for Hospitalized Veterans Mom and Dad always supported their children in missions- Crossworld, SIM( Serving in Mission), and WBT (Wycliffe Bible Translators), and grandchildren on mission trips. - - -

Service Information

Sunday, March 24th, 2013 2:00pm, Covenant Baptist Church

Interment Details

Western Cemetery