MARY HAMILTON WESLEY

Mary Hamilton Wesley, a resident of Croton-on-Hudson, died Monday, November 11, 2002 at Calvary Hospital. Mary was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on October 13, 1935, and was the daughter of the late Robert Emerson DeCarlo and Elizabeth Winston Hamilton. She was 67. Mary was a graduate of East Denver High School in Denver, CO in 1953; she received her BS at Briarcliff College in Briarcliff Manor, NY and her Master's degree in English at Manhattanville College in Purchase, NY. Mrs. Wesley was a retired English teacher who worked at Sleepy Hollow High School from 1971 until 1990. Mary was trained under Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s leadership in non-violent demonstration in New Orleans, and participated as a Freedom Rider during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960's. Mary was in an Alabama court on September 26, 1963. She refused to respond to questions unless she were properly addressed as "Miss Hamilton". At the time, people of color were referred to by their first names only. She was held in Contempt of Court, and placed back in jail. The NAACP and the ACLU appealed her case to the Alabama State Appellate Court, the Alabama State Supreme Court and finally, the US Supreme Court, where a judgment was handed down on March 30, 1964, that stated: "The Petition for Writ of Certiorari is granted. The judgment is reversed". Her daughter, Holly, survives Mrs. Wesley. The family will receive friends Saturday, November 16th from 10-11 AM at the Ossining Gospel Assembly Church, 199 Croton Ave. (Route 133), Ossining, NY. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Mary to the Calvary Assembly of God, 16 Lincoln Avenue, Pleasantville, NY 10570. DORSEY FUNERAL HOME 14 Emwilton Pl., Ossining, NY (914) 941-0167