Mother Mary Louise Overall, age 90 passed away on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. She was born in the state of Arkansas to Mr. Alma Bridgeman and Mrs. Annie Mae Smith Bridgeman.Mother Mary Louise Overall was born Mary Louise Bridgeman, the second eldest of seven children on December 10, 1933 in Magnolia, Arkansas to proud parents Mr. Alma and Mrs. Annie Mae Smith Bridgeman.
Mother Mary’s formal education began in Texarkana, Texas up to the third grade. Like many African American families from the south, her family migrated to Richmond, California in 1943 with hopes for better access to economic and educational opportunities. She attended Nystrom Elementary, Roosevelt Junior High, and graduated from Richmond Union High School in 1951. She graduated from Contra Costa Community College in 1953.
Mother Mary met and married the love of her life John Cecil Overall on January 2, 1954. She was blessed with three wonderful children: Debra Deanna Overall Jackson, Diahann Marie Overall, and Henry David Emerson.
Mother Mary began her career with the Federal Government in 1955 starting with the Internal Revenue Service in San Francisco, California followed by the Naval Supply Center in Oakland, California, and the Naval Air Station in Alameda, California.
As a result of the anointing on her life, a strong work ethic, and an ability to lead, Mother Mary was the recipient of many awards, such as the Dynamics of Motivational Management award, the Cybernetics of San Diego Stewardship award, the American Society of Military Comptrollers Certificate of Training award in Dayton, Ohio and Denver, Colorado. The following were received with her continued education units: The Navy Department’s nomination for the Federal Employee of the Year award and the San Francisco – Bay Area Executive Board Certificate in 1988.
Over the years, Mother Mary received countless outstanding performance awards, sustained superior merit awards, special achievement awards, letters of appreciation awards, and quality step increase awards.
In 1989, Mother Mary retired after thirty-three years and nine months and received her length of employment service award for federal service from the Alameda Naval Air Station, Alameda, California.
After retirement, Mother Overall continued to use her God-given gifts to advocate and serve others in her community. For five years, she volunteered with the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) by assisting seniors and low-income clients with the processing of their income taxes and actively, as a Roving Inspector with the county election board during election years.
Mother Overall was a highly respected and active member of Greater New Bethel Apostolic Ministries, Inc. founded by the late Bishop Alton Dewey Bradley, since 1959, serving throughout the years as a supervisor of the Young Women’s Youth Congress; taught in the Women’s Ministry; was a teacher for the Youth Sunday School Class; member of the Inspirational Choir; and vice-president of the Young Women’s Inspirets (YWI).
Additionally, she served on the Mother’s Board and was the secretary of the Bradley Economic Development Corporation; a teacher of Bible doctrine, homiletics, hermeneutics, and the International Understanding of People and Knowledge of the Bible Institute - Santa Fe Springs, California.
“To God Be the Glory for the Things He Has Done!”
Mother Mary Louise Overall is preceded in death by family members; Alma (aka Pops) and Annie Mae Smith Bridgeman; husband, John Cecil Overall; two children, Debra Deanna Jackson and Henry David Emerson; brothers, Ural (aka Sunny) Harold (aka Boolum), and Adolph (aka Pee-Wee) Bridgeman; sisters, Billie Joyce (aka BJ) Smith and Bobbie Jean (aka Jeannie Girl) Hayes.
She leaves to cherish and honor her legacy one daughter, Diahann Marie Overall of Berkeley, California; seven grandchildren; SanDria Cheney, LaTisa Cheney; Jason Faulk, Jonathan Faulk, Janea Faulk, and Henry David Emerson, Jr.; thirteen great-grandchildren; god-son, Rodney Chester Wilson, II; god-daughter, Soroya Williams; special daughter, Deanna Maxey; and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, saints and friends.
THE LAST MILE OF THE WAY
If I walk in the pathway of duty
If I work 'til the close of the day, Lord
I shall see the great king in all his beauty
When I've gone the last mile of the way, Lord, yes sir
When I've gone the last mile of the way, oh yeah
I shall rest at the close of day
For I know there are joys awaiting
When I've gone the last mile of the way
If I were, for Christ to proclaim the glad story, oh Lord
If I see for his sheep who gone astray, oh Lord
I am sure he will show me in his glory
When I've gone the last mile of the way, Lord, yes sir
When I've gone the last mile of the way, oh yes
I shall rest at the close of day, oh yeah.
For I know, there are joys awaiting
When I've gone the last mile of the way
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