Mary J. Wilson facts for kids

Mary Jeannette Wilson was a very special person who loved animals. She made history as the first African-American senior zookeeper at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore. She was born on January 2, 1937, and passed away on May 25, 2020.

Growing Up in Baltimore

Mary J. Wilson was born in West Baltimore, Maryland. She had an older sibling and a younger sibling. Her parents were Willie Wilson and Mary Henry. Sadly, her mother passed away when Mary was only five years old. Mary later graduated from Paul Laurence Dunbar High School.

A Career with Animals

Mary Wilson started working at the Baltimore Zoo in 1961. At that time, Arthur R. Watson was in charge of the zoo. He led the zoo from 1948 to 1980.

Many women zookeepers back then worked with smaller animals. But Mary was different! From the very beginning, she worked with large mammals. She became an expert in caring for gorillas, big cats, and elephants. Mary was known for taking baby animals home to give them extra care.

She worked at the zoo for 38 years, retiring in 1999. Even today, the zoo has two otters named after her: Mary and Wilson. This shows how much she was loved and remembered!

Later Life and Legacy

In July 2019, Mary Wilson began to show signs of a health condition that affects memory. She moved to a care center in Randallstown, Maryland, on April 1, 2020. She passed away on May 25, 2020.

Mary Wilson left behind a wonderful legacy. Her daughter, Sharron Wilson Jackson, also became a senior zookeeper. Sharron was the first African-American female senior zookeeper at the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in Omaha, Nebraska. Mary also had a grandson, Felipe Herrara.