Celebrating a Life of Service

Family:

Born to the parents of John and Bessie Wilhite in Terrell, Texas, they relocated to Dallas, Texas where Mary, the youngest, and two other siblings, Herman and Johnnie Lee were raised and educated. Mary and Robert Wright married 1947 and bore two daughters, first born Diane, then Yvonne.  She later re-married Dave Luckey for a lasting union of 57 years.  She survived his death in November 2017.

Mrs. Luckey is survived by two daughters, Diane Wright Jones and Yvonne Wright Curtis Mots (Jean Francis Mots); two grandchildren, Jeremy Jones(Kamesha Nelms) and Jessica Curtis; two great grandchildren, Jaia Jones and Kalea Jones, nieces Sherry Thomas Lee, Sandra Thomas Riggins, nephew Elliott Thomas and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Those of us who knew and loved her, understood that she was a woman of God, spirit led by her actions and good deeds. She was a woman of great character and integrity who taught her family to love God and treat people right.  Her strength of character was demonstrated in business, her personal life and the many people whose paths she crossed. Her career as a cosmetologist caused her to enhance beauty on the outside, but she found beauty not just on the outside but on the inside of those she helped. She saw in people a humanity that others sometimes missed.  She was quoted as saying "When I am lowest in spirit, I always find a way to help somebody". Mrs. Luckey was a long-standing member of Greater Bethlehem Baptist Church where she raised her girls. During her failing health she attended the St. Phillips Missionary Baptist Church where she considered Pastor CJR Phillips as her "community" pastor.

Employment:

Business Entrepreneur, Cosmetologist, Model, Educator, Community Activist, and Leader. Those are the words that describe Mary Wright Luckey. As a cosmetologist, she styled Dallas icons realtor, Mable White; educator, Mable Chandler, and journalist, Julia Scott Reed to name a few. After completing Beauty College, Luckey worked as an award-winning cosmetologist receiving outstanding accolades for hairstyling and coloring. She opened her first beauty salon in East Dallas, Smart Set Beauty Salon and shortly after opened a neighborhood eatery called "The Bean Parlor". Attending Miss Wade's Merchandising and Fashion College   after completion, Mrs. Luckey modeled in the community and eventually created the modeling group known as "Fashionrama".  Moving her business to the Oak Cliff area, she opened Smart Set Beauty Salon & Boutique where she began offering millinery and ladies clothing and fashion accessories.

Additionally, Luckey worked as a cosmetology instructor for the Madam CJ Walker Beauty College and the DISD Pinkston High School while offering services in fashion consultation and personal shopping.  Including her husband and daughters Ms. Luckey traveled statewide and nationally vendoring her millinery and women's fashions and accessories. Luckey had retired from cosmetology, and for the past 35 years focused on retail sales, fashion consultation and personal shopping.

Mrs. Luckey believed in education and supported both her girls, grandchildren, and great grandchildren in their educational and extra curriculum activities throughout their elementary and higher education endeavors. She believed in involving her family to seek achievement. Her motto was "You can do it!"

Civic and community involvement:

A strong community advocate, she was active in the Dallas schools PTA's, the Dallas Democratic Party where she served for over 50 years as a precinct chair; and was a Life member of the Dallas NAACP Chapter serving as Membership Chairperson. As a political leader in her community, Mrs. Luckey who served as President Emeritus of the Southeast Dallas Business and Professional Women's Club chaired the Political Action Committee.  As such she energized its members to become involved politically in voter registration drives and voter education projects.

Through her leadership she partnered with various community organizations to provide the club's "Breaking of the Bread" Voter Education Forum and participation in the Annual Women's Equality Luncheon at Dallas City Hall recognizing Women's Right to Vote. Dallas Mayor Annette Strauss appointed Luckey to serve on the city's Licensing Board. Mrs. Luckey held membership in the Progressive Voters League, worked hard in the 23 ^rd Senatorial District as deputy registrar of Dallas County, and was elected to serve her community as a Statewide delegate for the Democratic Party. In the summer of 2008, she led a campaign to support BPW Club youth members to travel to Austin to participate up close in the political process volunteering and learning about civic responsibility. Internationally, she traveled to Ghana with the National Association of Negro Business & Professional Women's Clubs to provide community service and for the installation of a water well.

Memberships : During her lifetime some of the organizations she worked with were: National Beauty Culturists League, Shop Owners Guild, Theta Nu Sigma Sorority; Pylon Salesmanship Club, Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce, Life Member of the NAACP and the NANBPWC.

Recognitions and Awards:

The Dallas Post Tribune recognized Mrs. Luckey several times as "Charmer of the Week" and "Businessperson of the Week". She received the Texas Congressional Black Caucus Award for "Outstanding Business Woman". Honored as a "Quest for Success" Awardee by the Dallas Morning News and the Dallas Black Chamber; Eta Phi Beta Sorority awarded Luckey the "Unsung Heroes" Award; and NANBPWC honored Mary Luckey with the "Woman of Courage" Award, the Sojourner Truth Award for meritorious community service in 1987, and she received the "Distinguished Political Leadership Award at the United Nations Oct 13, 2008.

We proudly celebrate the life of Mary Wright Luckey an humble woman of courage, strength, and unwavering commitment to help others.