Born on the island of St. Christopher (St. Kitts & Nevis) Eastern Caribbean. Her parents were among the migrant workers who were invited to the UK in the 50s. A devoted Christian, Mary has three children with her Nigerian husband Anthony Chaba MBE, member of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries, Administration, Bankers and director of the Broad African Representative Council of Manchester.
They have been married for 45 years and something she is very proud of, being of different cultural back grounds. She has also been fortunate to visit Nigeria on several occasions also Ghana.
Mary attended Claremont Road Secondary School for Girls in Moss Side, then Moston College and then unto Fielden Park College. Mary started a Psychology Degree course at Bradford University but due to family commitments she switched course and became a qualified Health Visitor. At Manchester Metropolitan University Mary gain her qualification as a practice nurse in Health Visiting. Mary is a qualified general/paediatric nurse, a midwife at Withington, Wythenshawe & Bradford Maternity Hospitals. Mary was also designated health visitor to research Haemoglobinopathy screening, such as Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia.
Mary has worked in the NHS for 48 years passing on her nursing and teaching skills to students, apprentices and to the general public. In 2017 she finally retired. Mary first met Louise Da-Cocodia in 1977 at Stalybridge Health Centre when she attended an interview for a Health Visitor’s post. During that time Louise was a senior community nursing officer and she was pleased to know that Mary had been offered the post. In 1989, after a long and distinguished career in senior nurse management, Louise retired. Mary attended Louise’s retirement reception and from then onwards up to her passing, her interaction with Louise and Mama = Elouise Edwards MBE were to be strengthened.