Mary Jane Burton passed away peacefully on January 18, 2021. She was born March 2, 1945, in Statesville, N.C., and was the daughter of the late Randolph N. Richardson and Elizabeth McElwee King.

Mary Jane had a varied career. She taught school for four years at Central School in North Iredell and was the owner/operator of the Calico Cat, a craft store in downtown Statesville. But it was in the area of law enforcement she found her true calling. Mary Jane started out as a dispatcher for the Statesville Police Department for five years. She left the department to work as a private investigator but soon returned to law enforcement and became a deputy with the Iredell County Sheriff’s office for several years. She was then appointed a magistrate for Iredell County and served until her retirement. She had many friends in the law enforcement field, far too many to list.

Mary Jane attended East Carolina University and planned to major in art. She was a very talented artist with a good eye and loved painting, pottery, ceramics and crafts of all kinds. Many of her family and friends were gifted with wonderful pieces of art or crafts she had made and have cherished them for years.

Mary Jane is survived by her brother, Frank King; a niece, Sara Tomberlin (Jake); great nieces, Elizabeth McElwee Tomberlin and Olivia Ann Tomberlin; and a great nephew, Luke Tomberlin, all of Raleigh, N.C.

She wanted to be sure to note three wonderful friends, Marsha Vanbibber, Noreen Walls and Rosemary Teague. Mary Jane loved her fur babies, Duffy, Tashi, Precious, Church and Boo-Boo. They were a wonderful comfort to her through the years.

Graveside services will be conducted at 2 p.m. on Saturday, January 23, 2021, at Oakwood Cemetery with Rev. Curtis White officiating. The family will receive friends Friday evening at Nicholson Funeral Home from 6 until 8 p.m. Wearing masks and social distancing are requested.

Condolences may be sent online to the family to www.nicholsonfunerals.com. Memorials may be given to: Wounded Warrior Project, 1990 Fordham Drive Suite 100, Fayetteville, NC 28304 or to the local branch of St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 2101 Rexford Road # 165W, Charlotte, NC 28211.

Nicholson Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements.