Mary Faye Jackson Wallace, 89, of Ocracoke, passed away Jan. 29, 2026, while receiving hospice care at Peak Resources in Nags Head. One of her dearest friends was sitting by her side, and her family is grateful she was surrounded by love in her final moments.
Born Aug. 15, 1936, in Pinetown, Beaufort County, she was a daughter of Leamon S. Jackson and Mildred Wadell Jackson.
Mary Faye attended Bath High School, graduating in 1954. In 1956, she married Allen Wayne Wallace. Together, they raised two sons and were beloved members of communities throughout Eastern North Carolina, from Plymouth to Manteo, and especially on Ocracoke Island.
Mary Faye was the widow of Wayne, her husband of 57 years.
She is survived by her sister, Donna Kay Jackson of Grimesland, Pitt County; her son Jeffrey Wallace, his children Brandon, Jessica and Savannah, and daughter-in-law Melissa; and her son Jeremy Wallace, his children Charlie, Mary Emma and Liam, and daughter-in-law Maureen.
Above all, she was “Ma,” a mother and grandmother who provided childhoods rooted in safety, comfort and deep love. Some of her grandchildren’s most cherished memories were shaped on Ocracoke Island, which always felt like a second home.
Summers on Ocracoke were especially dear to Ma. She would pack up her old Jeep with beach chairs, sandwiches and her famous lemonade, then meet up with family and friends and stay until the sun went down. It was never a question whether she wanted to go. Even as she grew older, she made sure she had her beach days — nothing stopping her from soaking in the sun and ocean air. She taught her grandchildren to enjoy the sea and the simple joy of being exactly where they belonged. While her shelves at home were lined with books, there was always one tucked into her beach bag. Family, friends and neighbors were drawn to her, and she treasured those beach conversations, her feet in the sand.
For Ma’s older grandchildren, days on Ocracoke were spent shelling, swimming, attending barbecues, shopping in town and roaming the island barefoot, growing up the way island kids do — surrounded by ocean air, simple pleasures and family love. She was known for driving along the beaches with her rescue dogs, sharing her big heart with every life she touched. Those beach drives, rescued dogs and unhurried island days became the foundation of memories her family will carry forever.
Ma’s younger grandchildren also grew up cherishing their Outer Banks and Ocracoke visits with her. With Little Debbie cakes at the ready, she always had a meal planned — from homemade chili to her famous clam bake — and always her special lemonade.
Ma and Pa devoted themselves to caring for their grandchildren. They attended as many sporting events as possible, serving as a true traveling cheering section no matter the weather. Ma was generous with her time, her love and her encouragement, and her warmth was a steady presence throughout their lives. Phone calls were frequent, often turning into playful rounds of phone tag to check in, her goodbyes usually preceded by, “Well, that’s all I know. Take care of each other.”
Her sense of humor never faltered. She was incredibly smart, clever and conscientious of those around her. Even in her final days, she met difficult moments with a smile and a gentle joke, bringing light and comfort to those around her.
Throughout her life, Mary Faye demonstrated a strong entrepreneurial spirit, owning The Gray Goose gift shops in Plymouth and on Ocracoke, which she filled with coastal knickknacks that allowed others to bring home special memories from her favorite places. She regularly volunteered at the Outer Banks Hotline. An expert shopper, she will also be remembered fondly for braving Charlotte-area sales one year after Thanksgiving dinner while visiting Jeremy’s family.
Mary Faye never met a stranger, instead gathering friendships like shells. Her family is deeply grateful for the many kindnesses those friends shared with her, from check-in phone calls to dinner plates dropped off and evening visits on her porch. She embodied true North Carolina Southern charm and possessed a presence that felt familiar, comforting and unmistakably her own.
Ma’s kindness also made her a second mother to many. Friends from Jeffrey’s and Jeremy’s childhoods would still stop by over the years as adults to check on Mary Faye and introduce her to their own families. Fittingly, she collected lighthouses, reflecting who she was — a steady guide, a place of safety and a symbol of home. For her family, lighthouses will continue to stand as a reminder of her unwavering love.
Ocracoke will always carry her heart. Though her family grieves her loss, they take comfort in knowing she is reunited with Wayne, waiting for the rest of the family somewhere down the line. Her love, lessons and laughter live on in the generations she helped shape.
Arrangements are under the direction of Twiford Funeral Homes. She will be laid to rest alongside her husband at Roanoke Island Memorial Gardens. The family plans to celebrate her life later this summer on Ocracoke and will share details once finalized.
A special thank you to the nurses and team at Peak Resources and The Outer Banks Hospital, and to all the family, friends and neighbors who visited her and have reached out to share condolences and favorite memories.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing to honor her life are invited to make a donation to the Outer Banks Hotline. Donations may be made online at https://obhotline.org/how-to-help/donate/.
