When Mary Elizabeth Thompson was born on 6 December 1869, in Charlton, Georgia, United States, her father, Calvin Thompson, was 34 and her mother, Keziah Christine Green, was 26. She married John Wesley Canaday on 16 February 1888, in Charlton, Georgia, United States. They were the parents of at least 5 sons and 3 daughters. She lived in District 1220, Charlton, Georgia, United States for about 10 years and Moniac, Charlton, Georgia, United States in 1930. She died on 13 November 1943, in Sanderson, Baker, Florida, United States, at the age of 73, and was buried in Baxter, Baker, Florida, United States.