Ms. Mary Brooks

The sun rose on June 8, 1949, in Clarksdale, MS for Mary Lee Howard. She is the fifth child born of Elester and Porter Howard.

Mary matriculated through the school system graduating from Aggie Highschool (1970) and Coahoma Community College (1972) in Clarksdale, MS. As time pasted she later moved to Chicago, IL with her older sister, Elester Smith before relocating to Dallas, TX.

Although rearing no children of her own, Mary married her longtime friend Henry Lee Brooks in 1998. Aunt Mary, as she is affectionately known, served as the early childhood caregiver of a host of nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Mary accepted the Lord as her personal savior, was baptized and became a member of The Potter’s House of Dallas, Texas.

She spent the later years of her life under the watchful care of her niece “Delestra (Dede) Brooks” and will be remembered by many for her kind and tender heart towards children as she transitioned from mortality to immortality on Saturday, October 26, 2024.

Mary has gathered in glory with her parents, spouse and siblings, Elester Smith, Porter Howard, Dorothy Baker, Evelyn Howard, Ezekiel Howard, Billy Howard, and Willie Lee Howard. She leaves to cherish her memory; siblings, Willie Lou Williams (Joe), James Howard, Odessa Gary (Clyde) and Ruthie Larned (Dallas); and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, great nieces/nephews, and friends.