Mary Ferginia (Wallace) Douglas was born and raised in Centerville, Texas, on May 20, 1951, to Callie Mae Cary and Lucious Wallace, Sr. She peacefully transitioned on December 21, 2025, leaving a legacy of faith, service, excellence, and unconditional love for family, education, and community.

Visitation will be held at 12:00 noon, followed by the homegoing service at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 3, 2026, at Walters Funeral Home in Centerville, Texas. Interment will follow in Burton Cemetery. The repast will be held at Ebenezer Baptist Church Fellowship Hall in Centerville. The service will be livestreamed directly from Mary's obituary webpage at www.waltersfuneralhome.com.

Mary attended Douglas High School in Centerville, graduating as a member of one of the final segregated senior classes. During her high school years, she played basketball, demonstrating early leadership, discipline, and competitive spirit.

She continued her education at Prairie View A&M University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and later a Master’s Degree in Special Education. While at Prairie View, Mary discovered her lifelong passion for collegiate athletics. Under the guidance of the late Coach Barbara Jackett, she competed as a sprinter in the 110-yard, 220-yard, and 440-yard dashes, as well as sprint relays and the mile relay. She was a proud member of Prairie View A&M University’s historic women’s track and field teams that captured national championships in 1972, 1973, and 1974.

In 1973, Mary and her teammates won the National Federation Women’s Track and Field Championship, held at the Houston Astrodome, a landmark achievement during the formative years of women’s collegiate athletics. The following year, the team continued its dominance by capturing the 1974 AIAW National Championship and the SWAC Outdoor Track Championship. In recognition of her contributions to this golden era of Prairie View athletics, Mary was inducted into the Prairie View A&M University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2018.

Mary began her professional career around 1980 at Brenham State School, where she devoted nearly two decades to special education. During her tenure, she served as Supervisor of Teachers on the Childress Unit and worked closely with the Recreation Department to support Special Olympics participation, ensuring students with autism, Down syndrome, and other physical and developmental delays experienced dignity, confidence, and joy through athletics. Her work was marked by compassion, advocacy, and an unwavering belief in the potential of every child.

She later joined Crockett High School, where she served as an educator and coach for the Lady Bulldogs in volleyball, basketball, and track, leading teams to multiple regional championship appearances and mentoring young women to strive for excellence both on and off the field. Following her formal retirement, Mary continued to serve as a substitute teacher in Huntsville Independent School District, remaining dedicated to education until a few years ago.

Mary’s greatest joy was her family. Anytime her siblings, nieces, or nephews needed her, she was there—steadfast, dependable, and loving. She remained deeply connected to Prairie View A&M University throughout her life and was an active member of the Prairie View A&M Athletic Club and the Prairie View A&M University Alumni Association. She was often seen courtside at games or in her season-ticket seats with her sisters, brothers, or nieces, proudly sharing the legacy of Panther Pride. Her nieces often say they aspire to be even half the aunt Mary was to them, a testament to the love she poured into their lives.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents; her sisters, Mary Ann Wallace and Jo Ann Wallace; and her brothers, Joe Wallace and Jesse Lewis.

She leaves to cherish her memory her loving siblings: Janie Johnson; Lucious Wallace Jr. (Rita); Morris Buckner; Jimmy Smith; and Robert Cary Wallace. She is also survived by her sisters-in-law, Lilly Lewis and Charleen Hayes.

Left to cherish Mary’s legacy of love and fond memories are her nieces PJ Michelle Douglas Sands, Jayda Smith, Megan Douglas Jones, and Melodie Peddy (Romaine); and her nephews Derrick Mask, Jevonte Mask, Mark Johnson Sr. (Tyeisha), Roderick Omar Smith, and Shedrick Mask (Jakae). She is further survived by her cousins, Willie Hopkins and Rhoda Proctor Hopkins; numerous grandnieces and grandnephews; and additional family and friends.

Mary also leaves to cherish her memory members of the Buckner, Cary, Douglas, Hopkins, Johnson, Lewis, Mask, Smith, and Wallace families, along with a host of other loving relatives and friends whose names are too numerous to list.

She is fondly remembered by beloved members of the Prairie View A&M University family too many to name, as well as colleagues from Brenham State School, Crockett Independent School District, and Huntsville Independent School District, in addition to colleagues, classmates, friends, and associates from various professional associations, civic organizations, and communities she faithfully served.

Mary Ferginia (Wallace) Douglas will be remembered as an Angel on earth—a devoted educator, accomplished athlete, mentor, sister, aunt, friend, and forever a Prairie View Panther.

May Her Soul Rest in Peace!

Final arrangements are entrusted to Walters Funeral Home, Centerville, Texas -- A Walters Family Funeral Home.