Mamie Peters Cantrell

Mamie Bertha Peters Cantrell was born September 4, 1937 in Norwood, Georgia. She was the third of six children born to the late Samuel Armstrong Sr. and Sarah Peters. She attended Silas X. Floyd Elementary School and Lucy Laney High School in Augusta, Georgia and later graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in Atlanta, Georgia after the family relocated.

Mamie was an active member of Williams Memorial C. M. E Church in her youth. After moving to Atlanta in 1952 with her family, they were invited by Mr. and Mrs. Elijah Jones to visit West Mitchell Street C. M. E. Church, the family joined and became active members. Later, Mamie moved her membership to Cathedral of the Holy Spirit at Chapel Hill Harvester Church in Decatur, where she faithfully served as a usher for many years. Mamie was also a proud member of the Eta Sigma Chapter of the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority.

Mamie married the late Fletcher L. Baldwin, Sr. in 1954 and moved to Harlingen, Texas as an Air Force military wife and three children were born to this union: Dee Gale, Fletcher Lee, Jr., and Patsi Lynette. In 1970, Mamie was united in marriage to Steve T. Cantrell, Jr., they had a son, Steven Craig.

After returning to Atlanta in 1958, Mamie continued her education at Spelman College and Clark College, now known as Clark-Atlanta University, graduating in 1965. She then pursued further studies at the Atlanta Data Processing School of Technology. While attending classes, she worked temporarily for Paschals Restaurant on Hunter St. now Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. and part-time for the Atlanta Braves at the Atlanta Fulton County Stadium before joining Fulton County's data processing division where she completed 30 years of service and retired in 2000. Mamie then worked as a tax professional for H&R Block for 10 years then retired in 2010.

Mamie, an expert bridge player, was associated with multiple bridge clubs including the local University Bridge Club (UBC), American Contract Bridge League (ACBL), and American Bridge Association (ABA). She also belonged to a local birthday girl’s bridge club. Mamie enjoyed traveling and attending bridge tournaments, which allowed her to visit different cities across the country with her family. Her love for travel and adventure was passed down to her children, she had a particular fondness for the Caribbean islands and ventured on numerous trips with her daughters to experience the unique cultures of Aruba, the Bahamas and Jamaica. Mamie was a loyal, devoted fan of the Atlanta Falcons and the Atlanta Braves, with a notebook where she kept records of their scores and statistics.

She loved music! You could hear her at any time humming and singing hymns at home. Country Western music was one of her favorite genres and during family gatherings, it was a time for her to share her love for music with everyone, bringing joy and harmony to all through songs like the "Bumble Bee" song which was her favorite.

Her love for the Lord was unwavering, and she dedicated her life to studying His Word and radiating His Light in every aspect of her being. On Friday, September 13, the rising sun brightly shone through her window as the angels quietly took our loved one home.

She was preceded in death by her oldest child Dee Gale (Chuck d.2024) Durham in 2013. Mamie's legacy lives on in the hearts and memories of: her children, Fletcher Lee Baldwin of Charlotte, NC, Patsi Baldwin-Jackson (her caregiver) of College Park, GA and Steven Craig (Christen) Cantrell of Lilburn, GA; Sister, Dr. Millicent P. (Bernard) Wright; 8 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, a host of nieces and nephews and innumerable loving friends.