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Mary Matthews Just (D. 1902) was born into slavery in Charleston, S.C. Mary was a mother to five children and their only supporter after her husband died in 1887. After her emancipation, she sought land to support her children. Mary worked in the Phosphate mines on James Island and worked as a teacher at an African American school in Charleston. Mary purchased her land from Sheriff Christopher C. Bowen’s widow, who had previously purchased 550 acres from Alice M. Legare. Mary convinced other freed slaves to join her in buying property in the area. Mary advocated for education and believed that the new town needed a school. Mary helped found the Fredick Demming Jr. industrial school during the early 1890s. This school was the first African American industrial school in South Carolina. Mary’s son Ernest Everett Just became a famous biologist. Ernest wrote letters claiming that the town was named after his mother and said “she became a strong community leader, canvassing the inhabitants, mostly men, and persuading them to transform the settlement into a town. They called the town, Maryville, after its prime mover." In 1886 the settlers had the town chartered. They held elections for a mayor and town council. It survived a short 50 years until it was unchartered in 1936. At this time, the town had roughly 500 inhabitants, with most of the population being African American. The town lost its charter due to 4 white store owners complaining about paying the local taxes. Today, a sign stands remembering Maryville and names Mary Matthews Just as an educator and community leader.