Mother Mattie Parker

OBITUARY OF MATTIE CLYDE PARKER A time to be born… Mattie Clyde Brantley was born on September 12, 1935 in Eupora, Mississippi, the fourth child to the union of the late Lindsey and Teretha (Brown) Brantley. A time to grow… Mattie accepted Christ at an early age. The Brantley families were members of Liberty United Methodist Church in Eupora, MS. She loved singing, and along with her siblings joined with their cousins the Aldridge family and formed their own gospel group “The Friendly Five”. Mattie attended Webster County Training School where she played on the championship basketball team. She later graduated from Mary Holmes Junior College in West Point, MS. She first met William Parker at a basketball game in 1953. However the two lost touch shortly there after, and Mattie would join her sister Delma, moving north to Chicago, IL. A time to love… In Chicago, Mattie and William were reintroduced to each other by dear friends Luther and Essie Payton. They were married on November 15, 1958. Seeking to provide a better life for their young growing family, Mattie and William moved to Saginaw, MI. The family flourished in Saginaw. Mattie loved Saginaw and would often state that Saginaw, MI gave her everything that she had. As a result of their hard work by 1977 the couple was able to build their “dream home”, a home that Mattie would reside in for the remainder of her life. A time for family and fun… Nearly inseparable, Mattie and her sister Delma attended and graduated from the “All American Beauty School” and became licensed beauticians. For years they worked side by side curling and pressing hair in their beauty shop. Mattie was a wonderful wife and homemaker. Although a slender woman Mattie Parker could cook! Every dish that came from her kitchen was just plain delicious. She was particularly well known for her famous “hummingbird cake” and her “down home Mississippi dressing”. Mattie was very devoted to her family, and could often be seen cheering at her sons, and later her grandson and granddaughter’s basketball games. Family was important to her and for over forty years She and William would host the annual Christmas Eve celebration. Through the years literally hundreds of family and friends attended. She was always happy when other families would “copy” her model and begin to have gatherings of their own. At her last celebration on Christmas Eve 2014, Mattie, although in poor health, but always thankful of God’s many blessings, insisted that the tradition that she started would continue after her time on earth was done…It will be. A time to worship… The family joined St. Luke Christian Methodist Episcopal Church where Mattie was a faithful member. She was a stewardess, missionary, choir member, male chorus director and organized the annual women’s conference. They later joined Victorious Believers Ministries under the leadership of Bishop Marvin C. Pryor. At VBM, she was an active member of the Mother’s Board, a licensed missionary and prayer warrior at TCT. A time to serve… It was the death of her daughter Angela Terosha on November 11, 1967 that prompted Mattie to commit her life to the mentally and physically impaired. A love and commitment she would share and inspire the entire family with. Her daughter Pama would seek a career as a teacher for (POHI), Physically Otherwise Health Impaired. Mattie was the first African American woman to be employed at the Saginaw Community Mental Health. She retired after 23 years of service. A time to remember… Left to cherish Mother Parker’s memory and to continue her legacy are her devoted husband of 56 years, Deacon William Parker; her loving children, Bunard Wendell and Anthony Stefon Parker; very special neice/daughter, Sherry (Albert) Hannah; grandchildren, Carron Phillips, Steven Duncan, William Allen, Bunard Wendell Parker II, Lindsay Brantley, Angela Z. Parker, Ashley Jones, Dionte Jones; sisters, Jeffalone Rumph, Delma Draine, Sylvia Brantley; brother, Bernard (Ora) Brantley; aunt, Ora Bell Hilliard; sisters-in-law, Katie Payne, Charlie Steen (John) Hughes, Jewel (Maude) Christian, Gladiola (Jake) Sampson, Mattie Dawn, Joy Bostic, Wilmer Lee Roberts, Izora McKinney; brothers-in-law, Walter (Kathy) Norsworthy and Dave Norsworthy; beloved great-niece and caregiver Demetria Draine; extended family and loving caregiver, Kimberly Lax; friends, Loubertha Brown and family, Thomasina Dorsey and family, Luther & Essie Payton, Elder Walter & Barbara Davis; god-daughter Jacinta Seals; god-son, Freeman Brown. Special thanks to Heartland Hospice and Nurse Karen Booker and several other nephews, nieces, cousins and friends. Mother Parker is preceded in death by, daughters, Pama Delesa Phillips and Angela Terosha Parker; parents, Lindsey and Teretha Brantley; brothers, James Brantley and Excell Brantley. Funeral service will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, April 24, 2015 at Victorious Believers Ministries C.O.G.I.C., 624 South Outer Drive. Elder Christopher V. Pryor will officiate with interment in Forest Lawn Cemetery. Friends may call at the Evans & Browne's Funeral Home, 441 North Jefferson Avenue on Thursday from 2:00 until 8:00 p.m.

Mother Mattie Parker

September 12, 1935 - April 16, 2015