Person    | Female  Born 31/12/1828  Died 11/8/1921

Mary Elizabeth Sumner

Founded the Mothers’ Union in 1876. Born as Mary Elizabeth Heywood in Lancashire. 1848 she married George Henry Sumner, son of C. R. Sumner, Bishop of Winchester, and a second cousin of William Wilberforce. The birth of her first grand-child inspired her to gather the mothers in the parish to provide mutual support. This Mothers Union rapidly grew and in 1896 when it required a President she was unanimously elected, and held the post into her nineties.

Her three children were Margaret, Louisa Gore-Browne and George who became a successful artist. (Though the photo we found, on Louisa's page, suggests Mary and George had another child, Effie, born 1849, who married a Heywood.)

Wikipedia notes that other sources incorrectly give her date of death as the 9th.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Mary Elizabeth Sumner

Commemorated ati

Mothers' Union - left

To the glory of God and in grateful remembrance of Mary Elizabeth Sumner who ...

Read More

Other Subjects

Henry Labouchere

Henry Labouchere

MP and journalist.  Born London of a rich banking family; Baron Taunton was his uncle.  Married an actress.  Responsible for the criminalisation of all male homosexual activity; prior to his effort...

Person, Gender Issues, Politics & Administration, Italy

1 memorial
Mrs Hester Thrale (Piozzi)

Mrs Hester Thrale (Piozzi)

Writer and good friend to Samuel Johnson. Born near Bwlheli, Caernarvonshire, as Hester Salusbury. In 1763 was married for money to Henry Thrale, a wealthy London brewer. An unhappy marriage, with ...

Person, Gender Issues, Literature, Wales

2 memorials
Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington

Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington

Irish nationalist and suffragist. Founder of the Irish Women’s Franchise League. Along with her husband Francis Sheehy-Skeffington, Margaret Cousins and James Cousins, she founded the Irish Women'...

Person, Gender Issues, Ireland

1 memorial
Edith S. Kerrison

Edith S. Kerrison

The first woman to serve on the West Ham council and an advocate of welfare for women and children. Was offered the Mayoralty but in view of her advancing years and increasing deafness she declined...

Person, Gender Issues, Politics & Administration, Social Welfare

1 memorial
Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou

Author and poet.  Born Marguerite Ann Johnson in St Louis, Missouri, USA. She died, aged 86 years, on 28 May 2014 at her home in Winston-Salem, Forsyth County, North Carolina, USA. Her body was cr...

Person, Gender Issues, Poetry, USA

1 memorial

Previously viewed

E. E. Crayford

E. E. Crayford

Co-partner or employee of the South Suburban Gas Company. Served but did not die in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War served, WW1
1 memorial
Battle of Britain - London monument

Battle of Britain - London monument

SW1, Victoria Embankment

BBM says "the names and ranks of the airmen who took part in the battle are {on plaques} mounted around the outside of the monument, the ...

1 subject commemorated, 5 creators
Robert Seymour

Robert Seymour

WC1, Doughty Street, Dickens Museum

A nearby information board informs: Probably the most prolific illustrator and cartoonist of his era, Seymour was the first artist ever ...

1 subject commemorated
Tailor Alley

Tailor Alley

BR3, High Street, Beckenham, 189, Pizza Express

The 3 black plaques are low down on the pilasters between the windows. 'Tailor Alley' can be seen to the left of our main photo. 'Burton'...

1 subject commemorated
A. V. Hill

A. V. Hill

N6, Bishopswood Road, 16

A. V. Hill, 1886 - 1977, physiologist, lived here 1967. English Heritage

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator