She was one of the first women to register to vote in Boston in 1920, at the age of 76. Mary contracted breast cancer in 1923 and died after 3 years. long battle on January 7, 1926. The NACGN established the prestigious Mary Mahoney Award in 1936, in honor of her respected life, to recognize excellence and elevate the status of black nurses. The award was continued when the NACGN merged with the ANA in 1951. There is also a Mary Mahoney Medal awarded annually for excellence in nursing. In 1976, she was chosen into the Nursing Hall of Fame and in 1993, the National Women's Hall of Fame. Mary Mahoney fought not only for women of color and equal opportunity, but also for women's educational and professional rights. minority. She left a legacy that is as vital today as it was during her lifetime, and will continue to be so in the future.