It is with a heavy heart that I am remembering Motown legend and original Supreme, Ms Mary Wilson, who passed away last night at the age of 76. Being a fan of The Supremes was a divinely-given journey for me, which started when I was four years old. In the year 2000, I emailed Mary using the contact email address on her official website, and stated I was an 11 year old Canadian boy who was a big Supremes fan. To my shock and excitement, she wrote back and said, "Wow! Are you sure you are 11 years old? You sound like one of my older fans!" She kindly arranged to have a personalized autographed photo sent to me in the mail, which I immediately framed and cherished. I eventually met her for the first time, after a concert of hers in January 2005, when I was 15 years old.
Fast forward several years later, another fan told Mary about my own Supremes fan website and she approached me with the opportunity to take over managing her official website, which I did for a few years until I resigned when I moved to Toronto. As her webmaster, I had the blessed opportunity to connect with her regularly on the phone and in person. It really was an adventurous dream come true and I learned a lot from that experience with her. I will never forget her encouragement and wisdom. At one point, I was nervously on the brink of coming out to my parents. She encouraged me and said, "You need to live your truth. From what I know, your parents are loving people and will love you unconditionally." She was right. She and I continued to keep in touch and I would see her whenever she came to do a show in the area.
My memories with Mary have been so special, but she was also a friend to countless fans all over the world. To hear the news of her passing is sad and devastating for all of us who love her, but we also celebrate her, because for her, life was a supreme celebration. She moved through life with so much love, gratitude and authenticity. For me, she was a supreme role model who lit up my path through life, when I needed it most. She will never be forgotten.
Bookmarks