Mary Hebert McCowan was born in Baton Rouge and graduated from St. Joseph's Academy in 1961. She attended Newcomb College and graduated from LSU in history. Married to Charles S. McCowan Jr., Mary has two children and five grandchildren. In addition to editing weddings and engagements for The Advocate, she and Carol Anne Blitzer have been writing the Coffee with Carol Anne and Mary column since 1989.