Mary’s mother was the first one to encourage Mary as a storyteller—her students were her second audience. Both her Grandmother Dot and her Sweet Mama Dayle were great storytellers, and Mary wanted to be just like them. Storytelling was in her DNA. Her Sweet Mama Dayle would smile her cheerleader smile and wave her imaginary pen, “Mary, you have the anointed pen of a writer!” She hadn’t written one story, but she had told her mama plenty! All true of course…”

Sweet Mama Dayle’s encouraging words still blow wind in her storyteller sails. And that is what she hopes her words will do for you. Help you catch the wind of your dreams!

She would often tell her students, “Your quest is to discover the unique gifts you have been given and share them with the world. But that is no easy task. A joy-stealing life can get in the way of all of us. So, keep digging. Keep hoping. We need you!”

Mary is also a professional actor. She has acted on stage, in commercials, and in films. She once had the privilege of being directed by Francis Ford Coppola—yes, star on the door—in “The Rainmaker,” based on John Grisham’s novel. Matt Damon and Claire Danes were also on set. Checks from Paramount still appear in her mailbox every few months—reminding her dreams really do come true!

Because of her performance background, she considers herself a writer and a storyteller. Sharing her own words “live” has been one of the most fulfilling and enjoyable experiences of her life. Mary has performed five of her stories on Tales from the South, a local radio show, syndicated by NPR, then nationally and internationally from Paris to Africa. So, her Mary Voice has traveled the world and maybe heard my millions.

Mary has the heart of an artist and the mind of a mathematician. Not that long ago, she retired from a rewarding math teaching career. She loved teaching mathematics and making a difference in students’ lives. One of her many special students, Lilac, sent this warm-fuzzy email: “Ms. Lester, it was something you said yesterday. I’m not sure what it was, but I will look on the bright side now.” 

As she shares her Mary Voice, she hopes you, too, will look on the bright side now! And enjoy reading her first book, Joy Mining: Digging for Diamonds in Life’s Difficulties, now available on Amazon!