Mary Elizabeth Hariston

June 16, 1941 - November 16, 2016

Mary Elizabeth Hariston, 75, was born in Woodruff, South Carolina on June 16, 1941 to Flory Brown Young and George Shelton. She departed this life, surround by her loving family, into the arms of The Lord on Nov.16, 2016. Mary grew up in a large family in Woodruff, where she attended elementary school. She left Woodruff as a teenager and moved to Cincinnati. She attended Samuel Ach High School and continued her education at Southern Ohio College. Mary, who majored in nursing, graduated cum laude from Southern Ohio in the early 80s. She worked as a private duty nurse for several years for families and for several private agencies. Mary also worked a variety of second job, including bartending for numerous local clubs and The Cincinnati Convention Center, where she retired after 15 years. She was united in holy matrimony to Lavayree Hariston and their union was blessed with two children, Stephanie Brown and Leroy “Yogi” Hariston, both of Cincinnati. Mary, affectionately called “wackey,” by family and friends, was outgoing, outspoken and was a source of unconditional love to her family. She loved bingo and going to the casino—both her favorite pastimes. She also loved working crossword puzzles and cooking. She was a wonderful cook, specializing in chicken and dumplings, cornbread dressing and biscuits. Mary loved her family and enjoyed keeping all of her grand and great-grandchildren. Regardless of the problem, Mary gave everyone the benefit of the doubt. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lavayree Hairston; three brothers, Will Lewis Brown, Charles Junior Brown and James Howard Brown and two grandchildren, Tammy and Rodney Brown. Her loving spirit will forever be cherished by her two children, Stephanie (Steven Jones) Brown and Leroy (Yogi) Hariston; a host of brothers and sisters; nine grandchildren, Shawnicea Brown, Russell (Michelle) Brown and Aissa Bishop, all of Cincinnati; Tiffany, JaVione and Candance Bivens, all of South Carolina and Megan and T’Anothy Mills; her first born, great-grandchild Shanae Brown, who was followed by 35 others; 10 great-great-grandchildren and counting; nieces, Sonya Brown of Woodruff, S.C., Carisa Brown of Hamilton, OH, "Linda Brown, Tonya Brown, Krystal Brown, Shonda Drew, Brittany Miller of Cincinnati, OH, Pamela Willene Brown-Johnson of Athens, GA and Shanda Drew of Cincinnati and Victorya Ellis; nephews, Rodrick and Carlos Brown of Woodruff, S.C, Mario and Rico Miller and Marcus Ellis of Cincinnati; Gregory (Jackie) Lewis Brown of Simpson, S.C. and Dr. James Howard Campbell, Robert Cameron and Jerome Brown, all of Cincinnati. She will also be dearly missed by a host of family and friends from coast to coast.