Mary Luvena (Wallace) Dethridge (March 22, 1894-September 27, 1988) began her musical education in 1927 at the Garton Studios of Dramatic Art, Music and Dancing.

As Samuel B.Garton’s protegee, she went to Italy in 1928 and 1930 and even sang in a concert on the steamship on the way to Europe. She was accomplished in singing operatic arias in English, talian, German, French and Spanish as well as Negro spirituals, folks songs, and contemporary compositions.