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Mary Lillard was born March 7, 1903,
in Jacksonville, Texas to Sterling and
Rose Bailey Price. She married Zack F.
Lillard October 16, 1943. She obtained
her bachelor’s degree at Texas Presbyterian
College, which is now Austin College in
Sherman, Texas, and a master’s degree
from Texas Wesleyan College in Fort Worth.
Lillard taught in the Mansfield ISD from
1945 to retirement in 1973. Former students
remember her as a strict disciplinarian
and a no nonsense teacher. She was most
interested in her students learning the
subject taught. Her dedication to her
students and profession helped her students
excel.
“She was a fiery redhead with the
temperament to match, but she gained the
love and respect of all her students.
She had a smile that I would never forget,”
said Wayne A. Coble, a former student
from the class of 1953.
Lillard first taught at Emhouse, Texas
and worked at Chance Vaught during World
War II before coming to Mansfield. Throughout
her life, Lillard was an active member
of the First United Methodist Church.
Also, she belonged to the Order of Eastern
Star and was a Past Worth Matron of Chapter
#876, Mansfield.
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