Novelene Booker

Mildred Novelene “Novie” (Thrower) Booker was born on the 22nd of January 1932, in Waco, Texas to Joseph Grady Thrower and Mertice Irene (Flemmons) Thrower and went to sleep in death on Wednesday, the 10th of December 2025. She was 93 years of age.

Novie, known as Gramma Bookie to her grandchildren and Gigi to her great grandchildren, was an active member of the Southwest Central Church of Christ since December 1959, where she taught pre-school for over thirty years, served as part time secretary, was active on the Prayer Ministry Team, the Missions and Benevolence Team, and the Ladies Bible Class where she served as chairman for many years, and visited patients at M.D. Anderson Hospital with Marie Bannister. If the doors to the Church were open, she was usually there. She was active in scouts and was a den mother; a school volunteer for many years, earning the golden apple award, and served on the Braes Interfaith Ministry as a board member. She owned the “Mom” taxi service for many years shuttling her boys to Fun Football, Little League Baseball, acting school, music lessons, and numerous other essential activities.

Novelene spent much time in Bible reading and study, meditation, and prayer. She loved music from the Gaither Homecoming series, especially the Booth Brothers, Jason Crabb, and Stephen Hill. She loved jigsaw, crossword, and Sudoko puzzles and was an avid reader. She loved to collect and catalog everything, especially paper doll books, Holiday Barbies, magazines and newspaper clippings, Academy Award winning movies, and Fisher-Price Little People. But nothing gave her more pleasure than babysitting her grandchildren in front of a Disney movie with a large snack tray and being with them with all of the toys and children’s books in the “Playroom”.

Novelene lived for many years at the Brookdale Clear Lake independent living facility in Webster, Texas under the constant care of Larry and Pam, and lived the last two years of her life at Monument Hill Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in La Grange, Texas under the love and care of the wonderful staff and the constant attention of Ron, Lee, John and Larry.

She is survived by three sons and four daughter-in-laws, Larry Wayne Booker and his wife Pam, Ronald Joseph Booker and his wife Lee, daughter-in-law Carole Booker, and Edward Ray Booker and his wife Violet; thirteen grandchildren, Russell, Rachel, Melanie, Carl, John, Steven, Craig, Angel, Elijah, Daniel, Brietta, Daegan, and Oriana; eight great-grandchildren, Gabriella, Gabriel, Ethan, Hannah, Asher, Landon, Carson, and Hailee; sister-in-law, Kathleen Thrower; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her beloved son, Donald; her parents; three sisters, Wanda Daugherty, Joyce Piano, and Alma Brown; brother, Wes Thrower, brothers-in-law, Col. Francis Brown, and Gene Piano; nephew, Rob Brown, and Roy E. Booker.

A Memorial Celebration is to be conducted at four o'clock in the afternoon on Sunday, the 21st of December at the Southwest Central Church of Christ, 4011 West Bellfort Avenue in Houston.

Immediately following all are invited to greet the family during a reception to be held in the sanctuary foyer.

Novelene's interment will be next to her son Donald in Forest Park Westheimer Cemetery in Houston at a later time.

In lieu of customary remembrances donations may be made in Mrs. Booker's memory to Southwest Central Church of Christ, Lifeline Chaplaincy, or AMEN Food Pantry by selecting their respective link under "Donations" below.

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