Mary Lee Harper-Patino fell asleep in death on Wednesday, May 6, 2026. She was born in Norfolk County, Virginia to the late Mary and Edward Riddick.

Throughout the years, Mary was employed by the federal government, WT Grant Department Store, Modular Space Systems. With Mary’s work ethics, she retired after twenty years from Rose’s Department Store. Mary’s natural talents and history was not her main priority. Over the years, Mary was a diligent student of the bible and belonged to several religious organizations. However, Mary had never learned about Jehovah, while recuperating from a short illness, she was praying that she could return to her religious services. It was at that moment that a car pulled up in her driveway, and it was two of Jehovah’s Witnesses – Vicki Capps and Cornelius Garrett, offering Mary a Bible study, and she accepted. The following week, Mary began studying every Monday. Many of Mary’s study sessions lasted several hours at Mary’s request because she had many questions and wanted to be certain that she fully understood the Bible’s answers. In time, Mary was satisfied that she had found the truth through Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Mary later dedicated her life to Jehovah and was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses on July 17, 1982. Not long after her baptism, Mary’s husband, Henry Rayfield Harper, began studying the Bible, dedicated his life to Jehovah and was baptized. After Henry’s death, Mary met George Patino, who was also one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and were later married. Mary enjoyed sharing Bible truths with those she met in her daily activities. Mary became a spiritual mother and grandmother to many. When not speaking about the truth, Mary enjoyed tending to her flowers and garden. Mary’s presence will be genuinely missed by all who knew and loved her.

Mary is preceded in death by her first husband of 41 years, Henry Rayfield Harper. Her daughters, Annette Ruffin and Jeanette Meekins. Mary’s second husband of 21 years, George Thomas Patino. Mary is survived by her remaining eight children, Henry E. Harper, Michael Harper, Antonio (Rose) Harper, Anthony (Ronda) Harper, Drexter Harper, Reginald Harper, Joyce Lee Harper Rich-Rishel, Jacqulin (Michael) Ruffin. Spiritual children, Artis Latham and Jennieree Lettley, nephew, Roy Riddick (Dianne), and a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.