Mary Elizabeth Anderson was born in Greene County, Alabama, near the start of the Reconstruction Era. Her family background likely involved agriculture, which was the primary industry in the region at the time.

Details about her childhood and education are limited, but it's assumed she received some formal schooling appropriate for the time and region. Considering her later entrepreneurial success, she likely possessed strong problem-solving skills and an inclination for learning.

Mary, along with her widowed mother and sister, relocated to the burgeoning industrial city of Birmingham, Alabama. This move marked a significant shift from a rural, agricultural setting to a more urban and economically dynamic environment.