Mae Francis Foley was born to the late Ruby Lee Wesley and Emory Bradley Foley Sr. on August 31, 1954, in Miami, Florida.

Foley began her schooling at Dunbar Elementary School until her family relocated. She attended Miami Springs Elementary, Middle, and Senior High where she graduated in June 1972. She continued her education at Miami-Dade Community College (North Campus) in 1973. Foley graduated with her Associate of Arts (AA) Degree in Physical Education in 1975.

In 1977, Foley joined the Greater Miami Athletic Conference (GMAC) and the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) as an independent contractor and game official through Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Foley registered as a three-sport official in volleyball, basketball, and softball in which she officiated hundreds of games.  Her more than 40-year career as an official in multiple sports has given her much recognition throughout Miami-Dade County.

During her 40-year tenure as an official, she officiated the 1993-1994 FHSAA Girls State Volleyball Tournament; the 2001 and 2002 FHSAA Girls State Basketball Final; the 2002 Girls Volleyball State Championship Final;  the 2003 FHSAA Boys State Basketball Semi- Final; the 2006 FHSAA Boys State Basketball Final (1st all female crew and head referee); 2007-2010 FHSAA Girls State Basketball Finals; 2016-2020 FHSAA Girls State Basketball Finals and the 2021-2022-FHSAA Girls State Basketball Final. Since 2020, Ms. Foley has been the Assistant Basketball Booking Commissioner for the Miami-Dade Basketball Officials Association.

Foley has received several awards and recognitions. They include the Volleyball Certification of Appreciation from 2006-2011; the 2010-2011 FHSAA Florida Active Official of the Year Award for Girls Basketball; the 2012 Female Official of the Year for the State of Florida High School Athletic Association; the FHSAA Certificate of Meritorious Service from 2010-2017 and the 2021-2022 FHSAA Certificate for 40 years of Meritorious Service.

Foley worked for the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice for 20 years between 1994-2014. In 2015, Foley became the Athletic Coordinator for the City of Miami Gardens and permanently retired in 2019.