Mary Jane comes to First Baptist Church after having retired from the State of North Carolina with more than 32 years of service.  More than 26 years of that service was as the first female Magistrate presiding over cases in Small Claims Court as well as Administrative Court.  Prior to that, she served six years as a legal assistant to the District Attorney.

Her schooling has consisted of Mitchell and Wilkes Community Colleges along with 26 years of extensive schooling at The Institute of Government at Chapel Hill.

She is married to Nathan Rash, a local artist, singer and licensed home inspector.  Their children are Tamera Pendleton and husband George, Jake Rash and wife Lauren, and they also have three grandchildren, Madison, Tate and little Georgia.