Mary Elizabeth Talbert

Mary Elizabeth Talbert was born in Crandall, Texas, June 19, 1930 to Minnie Myers and Clarence Scott of Seagoville, .Texas and Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas. She had two brothers, James D. Scott and Sunny Man Harris. Both her parents and two brothers preceded her in death.

Mary meet Henry Talbert, Sr. and his family when she was seven years old and he was nine. They attended school and grew up together. As they were growing up, they grew closer, eventually falling in love and got married. From this union they had one child, a son, Henry James Jr. They were married for over 63 years, until his death. Mary was the love of his life and he nicknamed her his "Little Girl". Henry Sr. loved his family, he worked hard and made sure that they were well provided for.

Mary and Henry Sr. moved their family to Los Angeles, California in 1955, and lived there for over 10 years. Mary worked in the food service field, and also as a Masseuse at a Fancy Day Spa While living in California they became the very close friends with Genevieve and Julius Martin. Then, in 1969 they decided to move back to their home state of Texas, where the majority of both sides of their families lived. Mary was a great Masseuse, but Cooking was something that loved doing and was a natural at, so she made a lifetime career out of working in the Food Service Industry.

Mary loved her Family, Cooking, Dancing, Socializing, To Party (to have a good time), and Gardening. She was a little social butterfly with an outgoing personality and she loved to talk (she would strike up conversations with anybody and everybody, even complete strangers). She was Energetic (so energetic that her daughter-in-law nicknamed her "Hot Mama"). Mary had a Green Thumb, she loved gardening and playing around in her flower beds, and had a talent for growing the most beautiful roses and flowers. She always had the greenest lawn on her street, and at one point was known for cutting the lawn herself.

She was a hard worker and had little tolerance for anybody who worked with or around her that didn't come up to her standards, or at least try. She was small in statue, but she was tough and didn't take mess from anyone or allow them to disrespect or mistreat her. She was tough, clever and had a lot of common sense. She was shrewd and cunning with her words, but never cursed. And, when all else failed, she had the reputation of resorting to justice with swift and direct accuracy. She was so fast and quick with her actions that she was able to hit folks upside their heads before they even knew what happened.

COOKING WAS HER SPECIALTY

Once the family relocated back to the Dallas/Fort Worth area, Mary worked over 10 years in the Zales Building Cafeteria in Dallas, Texas (as a Cook, Food Prep & Server) until Mary and Henry bought a new home in Arlington, Texas. The cafeteria was located in Dallas in a large office building that was shared by a number of other businesses/companies. Once Mary started working there and the people who worked in the building tasted the food that Mary cooked/prepared, the word got around and nearly everybody working in that building a couple of surrounding buildings started eating in their cafeteria. Nobody was bringing a lunch or going out anywhere else to eat. She became known as "The Cook" and when her grandchildren would visit her during the summer months, she could take them to work with her .... .It was okay because all they cared about was that she came to work every day. When she gave notice that she was quitting because they bought a home in Arlington and the drive was to far they offered her a lot more money to stay.

She worked for the Arlington School District Food Services (Cook, Server, Overall Food Service Worker) and became Top Dog .... meal planning and obtained the reputation of being the Best Cook in the entire district or anywhere else. Once she started preparing the food, nobody brought a lunch from home or went out to eat. The kids, staff and the school administrators all ate in the cafeteria. Administrators from neighboring schools would come and join them for lunch. The children, staff, and administrators all loved her and her cooking. Patsy Allen was her supervisor when she worked for the Arlington School District, but Mary supervised her and all of the other workers. While working together, Mary and Patsy became close and were the very best of friends until Patsy's death.

Mary leaves to cherish her loving memory one son, Henry James Jr. and daughter, Marcelle Talbert; two granddaughters Vernita Randall and Tracey Williams; one grandson, Michael Randall (Jackie); two Grandsons-in-Law, Frank Valmonte (Cynthia), and Solomon Legesse; seven Great Grand Children Matthew, Amber, Eric (Rukie), Aris (Maranda), Austen (Griselda), Jaylynn, and Zachary; thirteen Great-Great Grandchildren (Jordan, Zaiyon, Anaiya, Sanaiya, Maliah, Kenneth Asiah, Trenton, Akirah, Najhi, Milyana, Elijah, Tlalli, and Ezekiel); two sister-in-laws, Precious Grigsby and Helen Talbert; Nieces Sharon Scott Kennard, Catrice Scott, Jacqueline Tolver, Janeth Bollin, Connie Sanders, Regina Robertson, Phyllis McConnell (Bruce), Colletta Choice (Chuck), and Priscilla Dismuke (Billie); and Nephews Rodrick Scott and Ricky Sanders; and a host of other relatives, friends and neighbors.

MARY WILL BE REMEMBERED AS THE GREATEST COOK EVER

Mary cooked the best soul food in the world, there was nothing that she couldn't cook, and anything and everything that she cooked was always delicious.

She Was Simply The Best, "Better Than All the Rest"

A visitation for Mary will be held Wednesday, June 7, 2023 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Moore Funeral Home, 1219 North Davis Drive, Arlington, TX 76012. A funeral service will occur Thursday, June 8, 2023 at 11:00 AM, 1219 North Davis Drive, Arlington, TX 76012. A committal service will occur Thursday, June 8, 2023 at 1:30 PM at Dallas Fort Worth National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Pkwy, Dallas, TX 75211.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.moore-funeralhome.com for the Talbert family.