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What do you get when you take a hard worker who stands just under five feet, with eight years of gentle patience and the most giving heart found on the Dale Mabry campus? Mary Pierce, also known as the infamous, Miss Mary.
Miss Mary had been working at the Dale Mabry Campus for the past eight years running her own business, The Doughnut Shoppe II, until this past July when it was bought out by Sodexo, the new food provider for HCC.
“It was my own business, I made sandwiches and pastries and I enjoyed it. I know the students did too, but now it’s time for a change,” said Pierce.
According to Linda Tarrago, an HCC accounting professor and very good friend of Pierce When Sodexo offered her a position with a paycheck and benefits, she decided to stay.
Tarrago has helped Miss Mary with her finances and had long conversations with her about the business and what to do.
Owning her own business and taking the risks she has, Pierce was understaffed, underutilized, as far as what the college gave her, and overworked. Before, she couldn’t take time off and if she did, she lost money. At times, she would even take money out of her own pocket to pay for food, said Tarrago.
“She has a terrific heart, and a lot of kids took advantage of her, some people would come in and say they didn’t have any food, and she would buy them loaves of bread and jars of peanut butter which I’m sure she still does, cause a good heart is a good heart,” said Tarrago.
No longer making her own homemade sandwiches, Miss Mary flattens panini’s and delivers coffee to students. Pierce said a lot of people were surprised to see the business gone when they came back to school this fall.
“They didn’t know what was going on. I just dropped it, I didn’t want to get into it,” said Mary.
“While we miss what she had, I think in the long run the frustration level for her is going to be a lot less, it’s just change is hard,” said Tarrago.
Many students of the Dale Mabry campus know that Miss Mary is always there if they need someone to listen. “I love Miss Mary she’s a sweet lady,” said Elaine Cordero, 20, an education major.
Her shop was good quality, with way too much food, but one could always tell that there was love put into whatever she made. She’s the highlight of many students’ days, said Tarrago.
What about the new business that replaced the Doughnut Shoppe II, Jazzman’s Café? Student Andrew Miller, 20, said he got a muffin from the new venue but it could not compare.“She can definitely make a good sandwich,” said Miller.
Even though the small business is gone, the familiar face with a tender heart remains.
“She has a dream that she would like to open up a bed and breakfast with her daughter in the Panhandle, and she wants to be the cook,” said Tarrago.
“Miss Mary is the epitome of mother, she will take care of you no matter what, and she will put you, your feelings, and your needs before anything else. It is truly a pleasure working with her,” said, Emily Beaver,28, manager of Jazzman’s.
If you would like a warm smile with a fresh cup of coffee, you can visit Miss Mary at Jazmin’s café on the first floor of the social science building from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. each school day.
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