Who is Mary from No Longer at Ease and what is their importance?

Mary is a zealous Umuofian Christian, Mary is good friends with Obi Okonkwo's mother, Hannah. Mary jumps up to pray for Obi at his farewell prayer service. Mary lives over three miles from church but never misses a service. She often arrives an hour early, blows out her hurricane lamp to conserve kerosene, and sleeps. Her prayer consists of a long series of proverbs and Obi's life history.