5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall [
a]direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV)
Our mother was born on September 12, 1934 in Glendora, Mississippi. She was the second of three children born to Mae Bell Randle (her siblings Emma Linzon and Willie Williams preceded her in death). She had six siblings through her father, Charlie Washington (her siblings Rosie Holland and Sylvester Summerall, husband of Peggy Ann, preceded her in death). Momma accepted Christ at an early age and was a faithful member of the Jerusalem Baptist International Church under the leadership of Pastor E. W. Winters.
Momma said she always loved to cook. While other children were outside playing, she would stand on a stool to help her grandmother, Agnes Brown, prepare meals for their family and for folk working in the field. Our mother’s formal schooling ended during her teen years. This is when Pastor Winters officiated the wedding of our father, Willie D. Booker, who was 18 years old, and Momma. Momma said she was happy because all she wanted was her own family. Daddy said for the next two years they lived in his parents’ home along with his seven siblings, farming his family’s land. After their first year of marriage, our father announced that they would be moving to Memphis for better work opportunities because his family’s future was not in Mississippi farming. He envisioned his children highly educated with many opportunities for success. His mother, Grandma Lucy, begged them not to leave. Daddy said they stayed one more year then announced that they would be moving to Chicago to join Momma’s mother, Mae Bell Randle Lee and stepfather, Vernon Lee. As the train left the station, Daddy said they waved good-bye to his family—only to have most of them join him in Chicago, one by one, a few years later.
Momma loved living in Chicago. She enjoyed the changing seasons, even the harsh winters. In rapid succession, she gave birth to four children: Willie D. Jr. and Johnny D. (sadly, both died in infancy), Joyce Ann, and Lennard. The other three came a few years later--Patricia Ann, Dwayne, and Eugene (who preceded her in death). Finally, Momma had her own family. Momma said Daddy didn’t want her to work outside of the home. As was their custom, momma initially “obeyed” but always got her way. She wanted to help the family progress. They both worked every day for extended hours. Momma worked in food processing for most of her adult life, eventually becoming a supervising manager.
Pastor Winters also relocated to Chicago and became pastor of an established church. This is where Momma worshiped until she became a member of New Rock of Ages Baptist Church where she was the president of the Usher Board for many years. Momma and other family members were also affiliated with Metropolitan MBC. Momma enjoyed ushering because she said she always wanted to be a nurse and help people, which is what ushers did in their white uniforms. The family attended Sunday church services from dusk till dawn. In her later years, Momma became a member of Jordan Temple Baptist Church.
After working all day, somehow Momma managed to cook every day except Saturday. Greens and cornbread, smoked meat, beans, peas, sweet potatoes, salmon, rice and biscuits, chicken, meat loaf, black berry pie, and peach cobbler were staples in the Booker home. We knew we’d have a hot, home cooked meal every day. Even as adults, Momma continued to cook Sunday family meals---macaroni and cheese, dressing, cubed steaks, fish, layer cake. We never knew what the meal would be, but we knew there would be enough to take to our own homes, and it would be good! She knew we would all come on Leclaire every Sunday. Momma often shared prepared meals with neighbors and baked sweet potato pies for them on holidays.
When Momma and Daddy purchased their home in 1972 in the 900 block of North Leclaire, Momma really became a leader. Momma loved Leclaire and all her neighbors, including the Baldwins, Pitts, Randolphs, Johnsons, Grants, Mr. Henry Nichols, and many others. Whether collecting money for the next block club party or for the family of deceased block members, everybody knew that Mrs. Booker would be in the center of it all. When it was time to vote, she could be heard sharing political views during government elections and seen working at various poll locations. She believed it was important to vote and encouraged us to vote. Neighbors knew not to walk on Mrs. Booker’s grass, but they also knew she would get their UPS packages and sit in the hallway to watch their children as they went to and from school after she retired. At the age of forty-two, Momma learned to drive while living on Leclaire, even after our father told her no because he drove her where she wanted to go. He soon gave in and tried to teach Momma how to drive. Soon, she went to driving school and purchased her first car. It’s as if God knew Momma would need to learn to be more independent as she became a widow at the age of forty-four after Daddy suffered a fatal heart attack right on Leclaire.
Momma enjoyed facilitating social events, first with our father, and traveling, mostly during church sponsored outings. Momma, Grandma Mae Bell Lee, cousin Eva Davis, and Joyce Booker became members of the Eastern Stars, Royal Supreme Grand Matrons. She also loved going to the riverboat/casinos with her brother, Uncle Willie, and friends. She often came home happy with lots of winnings.
Momma especially loved her grandchildren, starting with the first one, her beloved Cozette (who preceded her in death). She raised Eugene Jr. from infancy. Momma retired from work early and dedicated many hours to rearing her grandchildren. She played Uno with them and cooked special meals just for them--anything they wanted. They could play in her bed for hours. Sometimes Momma’s adult children and grandchildren would all climb into bed together. Aww the comfort of Momma!
As Momma grew older, she began to lose her memory, and her health began to decline. She was a fighter….she survived three surgeries to her heart [Pacemaker, Defibrillator, Watchman], critical stroke, and full onset dementia. After a lengthy hospital stay due to the stroke, Momma was admitted to a rehabilitation facility, where she resided until on May 7, 2020, at 1:54 p.m., God said, “My Faithful Servant, your work is done.” Momma loved the Lord. One of her favorite Scripture was “In all thine ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your path.”
We believe that Momma has reunited with Daddy and they are now just Walking Around Heaven All Day!!
In Loving Memory of our Momma Clara until we meet again…Dr. Joyce (Raymond) Thomas, Lennard (Evangelist Linda) Booker, Dr. Patricia (widow of Ray) Easley, Dwayne Booker [Surviving Children]Lennard Booker Jr., Eugene Booker Jr., Patricia-Rae Easley, Patrick Easley [Surviving Grandchildren]Aminata Cisse’, Gina Booker, Kelsie Booker [Great-Grandchildren]Alice Helms, Betty (Alfred) Holland-Mitchell, Percy (Nyoka V.) Summerall [Surviving Siblings]J. T. Booker (Ollie Mae) and Millie Booker McClay [Surviving in-laws]
