Mrs. Mary Pearline McAdoo

Obituary For Mrs. Mary Pearline McAdoo

Mrs. Mary Pearline McAdoo (Pickett), daughter of the late Paul E. McAdoo, Sr., and Johnsie Ingram McAdoo passed away on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. She was preceded in death by her parents, Paul and Johnsie McAdoo; grandmother, Annie Taylor; sisters, Anne (Sue McAdoo) Pruitt, Alice LaVerne McAdoo; Johnsie Marie McAdoo-Williams; brothers, James McAdoo, Paul E. McAdoo; grandson, Myles Braxton McAdoo.

She attended Guilford County Public Schools and was a member of William Penn High School Class of 1967. She received her GED from Albany High School, Albany, NY., and completed 1 ½ years study toward an Associate Degree in Liberal Arts at Empire State College, Albany, NY.

Pearline (as she was called by family and friends) married Wilson Pickett, Jr. on September 9, 1956 and from this union was blessed with four sons, Wilson III, Roger Lynn, Michael Eugene and Avery Demetrius.

In 1966, Mary moved to Albany, NY where she had an outstanding career with the Department of Veterans Affairs Healthcare System from March 13, 1967 until she retired after 30 years of service on March 28, 1997. During her tenure with the VA, she became the first African American Secretary to the Chief, Psychiatry Service, Albany, NY; first African American Secretary to the Chief, Personnel Service, Salisbury, NC; first African American Medical Administrative Assistant, Salisbury, NC. In 1985, She transferred to Montrose, NY VA Hospital where she became the first African American Chief, Ambulatory Care/Outpatient Services. She went on to become a Patient Representative and retired as the Equal Employment Opportunity Manager and Equal Employment Discrimination Investigator. She often said that of all the positions she held, the one as Patient Representative was the most rewarding for her because it gave her the opportunity to show her love and care to the veterans who sacrificed their lives for this country.

In March 2010, Pearline moved back home to High Point, NC. She became an active member of Love and Faith Christian Fellowship, Seasoned Saints and Visual Arts Ministries until her health declined. She accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior as a young adult. She loved Jesus, her family, friends and being a member of Love and Faith Christian Fellowship.

She leaves to cherish her memories her four sons, Wilson Pickett III (Teena), Albany NY, Michael Pickett (Kathy) High Point, NC; Roger (Hermione Pickett) Baltimore MD; and Avery D. McAdoo

Funeral service will be held Tuesday, March 24, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. at Love and Faith Fellowship, 4344 Blackberry Road, Greensboro, NC. The family will receive friends at the church from 12:30 p.m. until 1:00 p.m.

Final arrangements are entrusted to Phillips Funeral Service, Inc.

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