Maria McCullough was born on May 15, 1973 from the union of Henry McCullough and Martha Frazier McCullough. She was born in Queens, NY at LaGuardia Hospital. Maria was also affectionately known as Poodie, Ria, Rere, Rabbit, and Mah.
 Ria found Christ at an early age and was baptized by the late Rev. John B. Mason III at 4 years old on May 6, 1978 at the Mt. Zion Baptist Church. She started on the Tiny Tots Choir, then went on to the Junior Choir, and finally to the Mason Ensemble. She also served on the usher board. In the last two years, she was planning a Mason Ensemble reunion.
    Poodie received her education via the New York City public school system. She started her education at P.S. 30 Elementary School, then Junior High School 231 graduating in June 1981. Thereafter, she attended Franklin K. Lane High School and graduated in 1991. Poodie  attended Benedict College and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Childhood Education. She then attended Brooklyn College and graduated with her Master’s degree, and later returned for 30 credits above.
      Rere began her working experience at a daycare center in Queens and also worked at a a Burger King. During her college years, she worked a seasonal job in New York at U.S. Postal Services. Rere realized her passion in life was helping and guiding children. She started her teaching career in Florence, South Carolina in 1997. Returning to New York in 1998, Rere began her employment with the New York City Department of Education. Her first position was at P.S. 262 in Brooklyn as a teacher. She then transferred to I.S.192 in 2001 and served there for 12 years. She re-started Vacation Bible School in 2010 at Mount Zion Baptist Church for four years. Finally, Rere became an Absent Teacher Reserve (ATR), and floated from school to school in the Queens area.
     Rabbit loved to sing. She was a member of the Glee Club and the gospel choir while in college. When her jam came on the radio everyone in the car knew. The music went up and it seemed like the car would be jamming with us too. And she loved to dance and party. Again, when her jam came on, it didn't matter where she was, she would end up dancing -- in the grocery store, the mall, in the car...just everywhere. Rabbit also ad a passion for bowling. She owned her own bowling ball, shoes, and bag. She wasn’t much of a cook but when she did she gave it her all!
 Mah gave birth to her first baby, Malachi Antoine McCullough, on September 11, 1999 (giving him the same initials as her mother). Mah’s grandmother, Teal McCullough, made her transition just 12 hours before his arrival. Four years later, in 2003, Mah married Robert George. From this union came her baby girl Makayla Autumn George on March 22, 2004.  
Maria took the morning train home to glory after 44 years of service on December 7, 2017. She will forever be cherished by her mom Ann; father Henry; son Maly; daughter Cookie; two godchildren: Jordan and Laila Snagg; four uncles: Bernard, T.G., Marion Frazier of Hartsville, SC , Clinton Floyd of Florence, SC; eight aunts: Edith and Rebecca Frazier of Chicago, IL; Lillie Mae Frazier of Florence, SC; Bernice Silver, Catherine McCullough, and Louise McCullough of GA; Flora Quarles and Ann McCullough of NY, adopted aunt Mary Cuttino of NY; and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends. Longtime friends Veronica Taylor and Sekou Jackson.   
                       
Graciously submitted by
                Granny, Cookie and Maly

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