Mary Mae Ward

Mary Mae Ward (also Courtnee and Powers) is a fictional character from the ABCsoap operaGeneral Hospital from 1994–1995.^[2] Introduced as a grandmother character running an orphanage, it was revealed through backstory that she had formerly been the mistress of Edward Quartermaine, with whom she had the son Bradley Ward. She is also the grandmother of the late Justus Ward (M'fundo Morrison), Keesha Ward and the great-grandmother of Maya Ward.

The role of Mary Mae Ward was originated by Rosalind Cash (1938–1995)^[3] in 1994, who played her as a proud matriarch character who had triumphed over racism and tragedy.^[4] When Cash died of cancer in 1995, the Mary Mae Ward character was written out of the series, with an explanation of having died of natural causes. In 1996, Cash was posthumously nominated for an Emmy Award, for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.^[5]

Mary Mae Ward shows up in Port Charles after Laura Spencer buys the Ward House. Mary Mae and Laura become instant friends and run an orphanage out of the Ward House. After her son Bradley Ward is found dead in Luke and Laura's yard, Mary Mae's grandson Justus and granddaughter Keesha come to Port Charles to attend Bradley's funeral. It is initially unknown who killed Bradley. Keesha begins dating the young, rich Jason Quartermaine. Mary Mae and Edward Quartermaine, both grandparents of the teens, are not happy about the two dating each other. Soon all evidence of Bradley's death points to Edward as the murderer, and he is arrested and charged. He swears to Mary Mae that he is not her son's killer. Mary Mae knows this and reveals during her testimony that Bradley was Edward's son; Edward had a wartime romance with Mary Mae when she was a blue singer years ago, which results in the conception of Bradley. Edward is later acquitted. Mary Mae finds herself singing the blues again when Lois Cerullo offered her a job at her record label, L&B. Mary Mae is popular at Luke's club and she is adored by many in Port Charles. When she dies in her sleep in January 1996, everyone in town turns out to pay their respects to Mary Mae.

Stephanie Holland, de The Root, incluyó a Mary Mae en su lista de los personajes negros más memorables de las telenovelas estadounidenses, escribiendo que Mary Mae "conmocionó a Port Charles con sus revelaciones sobre el pasado de Edward Quartermaine. Tenía esa honestidad cariñosa y familiar que las familias negras conocen tan bien, lo que la hacía sentir como una vieja amiga, no como un personaje de televisión". ^{[ 6 ]}

• Perfil de Mary Mae Ward en Soapcentral.com