Mattie Beck was born the sixth of ten children, through the union of Calvin Norwood and Delphine Berry on June 22, 1937 in Mendenhall, Mississippi. She met William in 1953 and they were married on June 26, 1961. William and Mattie moved to a home in Chicago, Illinois to start their family and resided there for many years. She was a loving mother and grandmother, caring and willing to help others. Mattie also shared her love for animals in opening up her home to many dogs. She was a determined person, who stood up and fought for what she believed in.

Mattie attended Howlan Elementary School and graduated from Farragut High School in 1955. She went to Morris Academy and became a cosmetologist. Mattie’s husband turned their basement into a beauty salon and they worked side by side doing hair. She later went on to work as a secretary for her husband’s construction business, a packer for Dr. Scholl’s Shoes, a cashier for a supermarket, and then a homemaker, what she loved doing for many years to follow. She also loved to listen and dance to music, cook, play lottery, bingo, watch game shows, and spend time with her family. Those who came to visit her, knew, when they walked into the door, they’d better have her beer or cc, cigarettes, and money!

After a prolonged illness, God called Mattie home on June 2, 2011, just twenty days shy of her 74nd birthday. Preceded her in death: her husband William in 2008; son Kevin in 1990, son Michael in 2009, and all but one of her siblings. Mattie is survived by her Daughters: Rita of Laughlin, NV and Angela Beck-Simpson of Los Angeles, CA; Brother: Excel, Sister-in-law: Lillie Mae, Daughter-in-law: Synovia, and Son-in-law: James  of Chicago, IL; Grandchildren: Tonia, Louis, Keith, Zoila, Kevin, and Quanisha of Los Angeles, CA; Corita, Raphael, Michael, Diamond, and Tiana of Chicago, IL, and Mercedes, Brian, Rachel, and Wayne, Indianapolis, IN; Great-grandchildren; Nieces; Nephews; a host of other relatives and friends; and her dogs Shay-Shay and Nate, who loved her dearly.