SC SC - Mary Elizabeth McMaster, 31, Winnsboro, 2 May 1983

[MadMcGoo]

Missing Person / NamUs #MP62421
Mary Elizabeth McMaster, Female, White / Caucasian​

*no photo available*
​

Date of Last Contact: May 2, 1983
Missing From: Winnsboro, Fairfield County, South Carolina
Missing Age: 31 Years
First Name: Mary
Middle Name: Elizabeth
Last Name: McMaster
Nickname/Alias: Mayte, Matee
Height: 5' 4" (64 Inches)
Weight: 110 - 125 lbs
Hair Color: Blond/Strawberry
Eye Color: Hazel

Circumstances of Disappearance:
Mary McMaster, known to family and friends as Mayte, was last seen by her mother (now deceased) at her home in Winnsboro, S.C. at 202 West High St. Mayte was with her friend Deborah Ernandez, who is also missing. Matee and Deborah left Mrs. McMaster's home at the same time. Details on Matee's car are unknown at this time. Ernandez's car was towed from a location in Richland County.

Agency Case Number: 19-12-4556
Investigating Agencies:
Chief John Seibles
Winnsboro Public Safety (803) 635-4511
Date Reported: December 31, 1983
NamUs Case Created: December 11, 2019

Regional Program Specialist:
Carrie Sutherland (817) 202-5931
carrie.sutherland@unthsc.edu

Sources:
NamUs

*I have not been able to locate a photo for Mary or any information on Deborah so I did not add Deborah to the thread title. I may have overlooked it in which case I'll edit the thread to include her.*

 

[Gardener1850]

Mayte was named Mary after her aunt. Mayte was in her Aunt Mary's wedding in 1960 as the only attendant on the Bride's side and she held the prayer book. The wedding is described in the center column newspaper clipping here: http://fairfieldgenealogysociety.org/Members_Only/Weddings-Collection/Wedding-Collection-0193.pdf

There's a 1968 yearbook picture of Mayte McMaster here: http://fairfieldgenealogysociety.org/Yearbooks/WinnsboroHigh/1968/WinnsboroHigh-1968-0115.pdf

 

[MadMcGoo]

Mayte was named Mary after her aunt. Mayte was in her Aunt Mary's wedding in 1960 as the only attendant on the Bride's side and she held the prayer book. The wedding is described in the center column newspaper clipping here: http://fairfieldgenealogysociety.org/Members_Only/Weddings-Collection/Wedding-Collection-0193.pdf

There's a 1968 yearbook picture of Mayte McMaster here: http://fairfieldgenealogysociety.org/Yearbooks/WinnsboroHigh/1968/WinnsboroHigh-1968-0115.pdf

View attachment 220081

Oh I’m so glad you found a photo! And cleared up the discrepancy with her nickname! That was bothering me. I put both Mayte and Matee since that’s how it was entered into NamUs, just in case, but I’m glad to know for certain. I wish there was something about Deborah, or even a few more details

 

[Gardener1850]

Another yearbook picture of Mayte from 1969 here: http://fairfieldgenealogysociety.org/Yearbooks/WinnsboroHigh/1969/WinnsboroHigh-1969-0027.pdf

 

[Gardener1850]

Oh I’m so glad you found a photo! And cleared up the discrepancy with her nickname! That was bothering me. I put both Mayte and Matee since that’s how it was entered into NamUs, just in case, but I’m glad to know for certain. I wish there was something about Deborah, or even a few more details

It's quite a unique nickname for Mary, IMO. I wonder if Deborah's last name is really Hernandez or Fernandez? I've never seen the surname as "Ernandez" before. I'll see what I can find.

 

[Gardener1850]

Another yearbook photo from 1969. Mayte was in a play her senior year. I think she is the girl sitting on the floor in the group photo: http://fairfieldgenealogysociety.org/Yearbooks/WinnsboroHigh/1969/WinnsboroHigh-1969-0124.pdf

 

[Gardener1850]

Mayte is shown studying with other students in a group photo in the 1969 yearbook: http://fairfieldgenealogysociety.org/Yearbooks/WinnsboroHigh/1969/WinnsboroHigh-1969-0028.pdf

 

[Gardener1850]

Mayte took Home Ec in 1969 and learned to sew her own clothes: http://fairfieldgenealogysociety.org/Yearbooks/WinnsboroHigh/1969/WinnsboroHigh-1969-0031.pdf

 

[Gardener1850]

I'm not sure what this is but there is another picture of Mayte McMaster here: http://www.fairfieldgenealogysociety.org/Yearbooks/MountZion/1956/MountZion-1956-0087.pdf

However, the date says 1956 which is confusing me-- possibly wrong date in the heading or another Mayte McMasters in Winnsboro, SC?

Some history on Mount Zion Institute: Mt. Zion Institute - SC Picture Projectbeleive

ETA: I found the entire yearbook scan for the above page. I think the 1956 one is not her-- it might be her Aunt? Mayte McMaster is mentioned (Pg 90, 91,) and there's no doubting it's from 1956, when the missing Mayte would have been around 4 years old: http://fairfieldgenealogysociety.org/Yearbooks/MountZion/1956/MountZion-1956-Yearbook.pdf

ETA 2: Even though I don't think the above yearbook is for the missing woman I'm going to leave this info here and I hope that's within the TOS here. It's important to know that there is more than one "Mayte McMaster" when searching for info on the missing woman. MOO.

 

[Gardener1850]

There is an index listing all of Mayte's 1968 classmates and her 1969 classmates:
Winnsboro High School 1968
Winnsboro High School 1969

There's no Deborah Ernandez, Hernandez or Fernandez, although there are a few Deborah's, Debbys, etc. Perhaps her friend Deborah was married and had a different maiden name? Or maybe she was not a classmate of Maytes, since they disappeared when Mayte was 31 years old.

MOO.

 

[Gardener1850]

For reference, the missing Mary Elizabeth "Mayte" McMaster's date of birth is: 20 Jul 1951

(Taken from public address records: FamilySearch )

 

[MadMcGoo]

I found those other photos (great resource BTW)...the 1956 photos are of her mother, Jane Brooks McMaster (1908-1998) - Find A Grave... , I found her by using the names in the wedding announcement you posted. I haven’t looked through the entire books but maybe both sisters are listed? There was 2 years age difference between Matye and Jane/Jan. I did see a few other McMasters so I’m guessing that’s probably it. IMO

Ernandez is an unusual name and I’m thinking, like you said, given their age I’d guess Deborah may have been from somewhere else. It’d be helpful to have even a description of her. I wonder why only Mayte was entered into NamUs and not Deborah? It’s strange that she’s mentioned in the notes but there’s no report for her... JMO

 

[Gardener1850]

I found those other photos (great resource BTW)...the 1956 photos are of her mother, Jane Brooks McMaster (1908-1998) - Find A Grave... , I found her by using the names in the wedding announcement you posted. I haven’t looked through the entire books but maybe both sisters are listed? There was 2 years age difference between Matye and Jane/Jan. I did see a few other McMasters so I’m guessing that’s probably it. IMO

Ernandez is an unusual name and I’m thinking, like you said, given their age I’d guess Deborah may have been from somewhere else. It’d be helpful to have even a description of her. I wonder why only Mayte was entered into NamUs and not Deborah? It’s strange that she’s mentioned in the notes but there’s no report for her... JMO

Oh, thank you for finding that. I figured it out-- those references to Mayte in her mother's 1956 college yearbook are the missing Mayte -- when she was about 4 or 5 years old. Her mother was married and in college and Mayte was listed as the "school mascot" (pg 90) and then she is pictured on pg 92 (although her name appears on pg 91): http://fairfieldgenealogysociety.org/Yearbooks/MountZion/1956/MountZion-1956-Yearbook.pdf

I believe that little girl on stage is Mayte:


Not that any of this helps us find her... But it helps to know a little of her history. And there are NOT 2 women who went by Mayte McMaster.

 

[Gardener1850]

I found some references to the last name Ernandez by searching the Fairfield Genealogy Society's webpage. No info on Deborah yet but I can confirm it is a local surname (that spelling) in SC with Obituaries going back to 1898. I will have to search more on Deborah Ernandez later as I'm falling asleep now.

 

[MadMcGoo]

Oh, thank you for finding that. I figured it out-- those references to Mayte in her mother's 1956 college yearbook are the missing Mayte -- when she was about 4 or 5 years old. Her mother was married and in college and Mayte was listed as the "school mascot" (pg 90) and then she is pictured on pg 92 (although her name appears on pg 91): http://fairfieldgenealogysociety.org/Yearbooks/MountZion/1956/MountZion-1956-Yearbook.pdf

I believe that little girl on stage is Mayte:
View attachment 220090

Not that any of this helps us find her... But it helps to know a little of her history. And there are NOT 2 women who went by Mayte McMaster.

Ahah! Makes sense. I’m glad there is a face to put with the name!

I got to looking at the photo of her sewing and I thought I’d seen that ring before. Took me a minute but I figured out where... I’m not sure about the timeline/birth/location, etc. but I can’t help notice the ring. The gold band possibly has an initial (M) engraved on it...

220UFIL

ETA: photos

 

[MadMcGoo]

I found some references to the last name Ernandez by searching the Fairfield Genealogy Society's webpage. No info on Deborah yet but I can confirm it is a local surname (that spelling) in SC with Obituaries going back to 1898. I will have to search more on Deborah Ernandez later as I'm falling asleep now.

Okay! I will search for Deborah a bit longer. Thanks for everything!! Sleep well!

 

[Gardener1850]

I found those other photos (great resource BTW)...the 1956 photos are of her mother, Jane Brooks McMaster (1908-1998) - Find A Grave... , I found her by using the names in the wedding announcement you posted. I haven’t looked through the entire books but maybe both sisters are listed? There was 2 years age difference between Matye and Jane/Jan. I did see a few other McMasters so I’m guessing that’s probably it. IMO

Ernandez is an unusual name and I’m thinking, like you said, given their age I’d guess Deborah may have been from somewhere else. It’d be helpful to have even a description of her. I wonder why only Mayte was entered into NamUs and not Deborah? It’s strange that she’s mentioned in the notes but there’s no report for her... JMO

I'm looking at this with fresh eyes this morning and realizing that Jane was quite a bit older to be Mayte's mother. It's not impossible, but look at her date of birth- 1908 (and her husband was born in 1897). She would have had Mayte at age 43? I wonder if Jane was actually her grandmother? I'm going to work more on her family tree but probably won't post about it as technically we are not supposed to sleuth the family of the missing person. No matter her mother's name, my theory on the yearbook is still the same-- I believe that is a 4-5 year old Mayte McMasters pictured in the 1956 yearbook. MOO.

I found a findagrave memorial with an Ernandez obituary that says the woman was "preceded in death by a daughter, Deborah Anne Ernandez" and I'm working on trying to figure out if that is referring to the Deborah Ernandez that disappeared. I'm never sure about the rules here on posting obituaries and links to deceased people's memorials (since we are technically not supposed to openly sleuth the family of the missing person). So for now I'm going to err on the side of caution and not link to the Ernandez memorial that I think might be her mother. If anyone else wants to research it on their own just search the name Ernandez at findagrave. There are only 91 of them. The woman I think might be the missing Deborah's mother died in 2014 in Chester, SC.

 

[MadMcGoo]

I'm looking at this with fresh eyes this morning and realizing that Jane was quite a bit older to be Mayte's mother. It's not impossible, but look at her date of birth- 1908 (and her husband was born in 1897). She would have had Mayte at age 43? I wonder if Jane was actually her grandmother? I'm going to work more on her family tree but probably won't post about it as technically we are not supposed to sleuth the family of the missing person. No matter her mother's name, my theory on the yearbook is still the same-- I believe that is a 4-5 year old Mayte McMasters pictured in the 1956 yearbook. MOO.

I found a findagrave memorial with an Ernandez obituary that says the woman was "preceded in death by a daughter, Deborah Anne Ernandez" and I'm working on trying to figure out if that is referring to the Deborah Ernandez that disappeared. I'm never sure about the rules here on posting obituaries and links to deceased people's memorials (since we are technically not supposed to openly sleuth the family of the missing person). So for now I'm going to err on the side of caution and not link to the Ernandez memorial that I think might be her mother. If anyone else wants to research it on their own just search the name Ernandez at findagrave. There are only 91 of them. The woman I think might be the missing Deborah's mother died in 2014 in Chester, SC.

Yes! I found the same Deborah! I do think that is the correct one, FWIW. Unless the Ernandez mentioned on Mayte’s NamUs was from another state. I only found a handful of DE’s it could be...the obituary listing this one as preceding her mother in death, convinced me. I think I first found her in a Rock Hill yearbook.

I’m not sure what to make of Mayte’s mother’s age...although I agree with you that we’ve got the right Mary McMasters. IMO

 

[Gardener1850]

Yes! I found the same Deborah! I do think that is the correct one, FWIW. Unless the Ernandez mentioned on Mayte’s NamUs was from another state. I only found a handful of DE’s it could be...the obituary listing this one as preceding her mother in death, convinced me. I think I first found her in a Rock Hill yearbook.

I’m not sure what to make of Mayte’s mother’s age...although I agree with you that we’ve got the right Mary McMasters. IMO

I have pretty much hit a brick wall in my search for info. The Deborah I found is spelled as Debra Ann Ernandez in her father's obituary and Deborah Anne Ernandez in her mother's obituary. There is no date of death for her and no death record that I could find, which leads me to believe we have the right one. I also did not find a birth record for her but public address records indicate that that Deborah was born in 1961. I think she would have gone to high school in Chester, SC. Maybe that info will help find her yearbook photo. MOO.

 

[S.L. Ernandez]

Deborah Ernandez was my first cousin. She graduated from Lewisville High in Richburg SC in 1979.