Ms. Mary Frances Knight Booker

The Life of Mary Knight Booker Favorite Quote: Life is not a Bed of Roses On February 2, 2021, Mary Frances Knight Booker, 81, lately of Baltimore, Maryland, went home to be with the Lord. Her public viewing and funeral service will be held at the Pope Funeral Home, Forestville Maryland, and officiated by Pastor Anthony G. Maclin on February 13, 2021 at 10:00 am. A gravesite service will be held at Mt. Olivet Cemetery following the funeral services. Mary was born September 10, 1939, to the late Susie Lee Griggs in Bethel, NC. She was raised and attended schools in Bethel, NC. At the age of 16, she married Charlie Mack Knight and moved to Washington, DC. From this union, four children were united, Linda Gail Ballard, Gary Knight (deceased), Lisa Renee Knight, and Teresa Knight. She later married her 2nd husband James Julius Booker in 1985 until his death in April 2017. Mary was a genuinely loving and energetic person who loved her family dearly. She always made it her business to keep in touch with everyone from North Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, Florida, New Jersey and anywhere she knew family was located. She always made it clear, family was everything to her and that her doors were always open and a hot meal available. She greeted everyone that came to visit with a drink, some good food, music, and great conversations. She prided herself in making sure everyone always felt welcomed and expressed how they were always welcome to return. She always radiated with confidence and spunk and she had a way of making you feel like you could conquer the world. Mary belonged to a social group called “The Sunshine Girls” back in the late 60s and early 70s. Mary and the ladies in her group would cater and organize social events often. She absolutely loved being around family and friends, especially holidays. Her house was the go-to for family celebrations, birthdays, graduations, baby showers, and the usual “Sunday Soul Food Dinners”. Mary learned early in life the importance of working hard. After moving to DC, Mary began working as a caregiver to children of a local judge. That opportunity served as the catalyst to her reading and networking skills. During this time, she was offered a position full-time at Stone Industrial located in Greenbelt, MD, also while working part-time providing cleaning services downtown DC where she retired from both jobs after 33+ years of service. After her retirement, she worked for a short period of time at Homeland Security in Washington, D.C. Mary always found a way to take care of her family, even if that meant working two jobs to provide for her girls. She was dedicated and exemplified a no-nonsense attitude about the importance of working hard. When we would complain about work or life, she would always say “Life is not a Bed of Roses”, and with that, we knew to hold our head up, push our shoulders back and finish strong. Mary was spunky and full of fire!!! She wanted her girls to know, “Always be prepared because you never know how life will come at you. You cannot just count on others to save you. You got to be able to take care of yourself. Be strong and push. Cry for a minute and move on. Life will always be what you make it”. She was a tough cookie on the outside, but deep down inside, she was always also very caring. She always put God first and expressed the importance of being actively involved in church. Later in life, Mary joined the Sanctuary at Kingdom Square Church where she remained a devoted servant. Mary was preceded in death by her beloved husband James Julius Booker. She leaves to cherish her memories of her brothers and sisters, Willie Salisbury (deceased), Shirley Redmond, Pearlie Mae Little, Whit Salisbury, Jr., Clarence Salisbury (deceased), Walter Salisbury, James Earl Salisbury, Gloristine Gorham, Janice Crosby, Juanita Salisbury (deceased), three daughters, Linda Gail Ballard, Lisa Renee Knight, Teresa Knight, six grandkids, Michael Shaun Ballard (deceased), Leon Christopher Ballard, Crystal Renee Ballard, Chiana Nichole Coleman, Briana Jenay Coleman and Quendin Farod Mims, and four great grandkids, Destiny Reshay Hughes, DeLonte Maurice Wilson, Xavier DeLonte Moore, Aaliyah Vaniece Finger and a host of beloved nieces, nephews, cousins and devoted friends. So today we say goodbye to the matriarch of our family. We say goodbye to a woman who loved everyone, for who they were, and never for what they had. We say goodbye to one of the most generous, loving, compassionate and kind-hearted wives, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt, cousin and friend. It’s a love we can only hope to match as we move through our lives without you. Thank you Ma for teaching us the importance of family, love and last but not least---STRENGTH. We are strong because of you, but we are weak without you. Until our eyes meet again, for all eternity, we love you and miss you so much Ma.

Ms. Mary Frances Knight Booker

September 10, 1939 - February 2, 2021