Mary Ann Saunders, a homemaker who lived in West Baltimore for nearly 50 years, died March 28 of kidney failure at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Family members estimated her age at between 89 and 91.
Born Mary Ann Rivies in Enfield, N.C., she was the daughter of Warren and Roberta Rivies. She received her education in Enfield.
She moved to Baltimore when she was 14 years old and lived in West Baltimore.
When she lived on Walbrook Avenue, she made and sold a confection she called frozen cups.
"She was known as the frozen cup lady," said a granddaughter, Telezia Thomas of York, Pa. "She sold ice cream with sprinkles and made her frozen cups."
Mrs. Saunders also made fried chicken, bread pudding, sweet potato pies, peach cobblers and pineapple upside-down cakes for family dinners.
She attended the August 1963 March on Washington.
"Mary took pride in her appearance and was always dressed every time she took a step to go out of her front door," her granddaughter said. "She had rings on every finger, dangling earrings, and a shiny necklace or two around her neck."
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Christian Memorial Church, North Avenue and Payson Street, where she was a member for more than 50 years. She also belonged to the church usher board and sang in its gospel choir.
In addition to her granddaughter, survivors include two daughters, Arlinda Saunders and Iona Saunders, both of Baltimore; three other grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. Her husband, Thomas Saunders, who worked in masonry construction, died many years ago. A daughter, Annie Dean Saunders Smith, died in 1987.