The life of longtime Bethany member Mary Harbison, who passed away November 21, 2023, will be celebrated at a memorial service Saturday, January 27, starting 2 p.m. at Bethany. All are invited to honor Mary at this service. A reception and time of fellowship will follow in the church Social Hall.

A local and regional leader of Presbyterian Women, Mary worked diligently to help others grow in spirituality and faith. Several times she traveled across the country as a delegate at national PW Gatherings. She used her skills as an actor and orator to present and interpret the Word, and her talents as a poet and essayist were always put to good use in worship services and at fellowship events.

Mary wholeheartedly embraced her Scottish heritage—which she said could be traced back to Robert the Bruce—and was overjoyed when a nephew created the officially recognized Harbison Tartan. She was for many years a member of Kilwinning Lodge #203 Daughters of Scotia, achieving the position of Chief Daughter, and as recently as a month prior to her death had been elected to fill the post of Chaplain.

At Bethany Presbyterian Church, Mary was elected several terms as elder and served as chair of the Mission and Social Action Commission. Under her leadership Bethany began its relationship with World Relief, financially sponsoring and welcoming refugee families from Afghanistan. Her collections of angels and crosses were shared on numerous occasions with members of the congregation, who were unanimous in their love and respect for this extraordinary woman.

Mary was a firm believer that God had put her in this world to serve. This conviction was summed up by one of her favorite Bible verses—Esther 4:14—“Perhaps you were born for such a time as this.” We at Bethany truly were fortunate to have had our time with Mary Harbison.

Mary’s passing left numerous expenses for her family to contend with. A special fund has been set up to help ease the financial burden.
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