“Oh What a Beautiful Life”……….
Who can find a virtuous woman? For her worth is far above rubies. Proverbs 31:10
The journey of Mrs. Mattie Mae Asberry Frazier began on Thursday, January 16, 1919 in LaFayette (Chambers County), Alabama with the temperature having been recorded as 30 degrees Fahrenheit.
Her parents were L Canaan and Janie Mathews Asberry. As a result of her parents’ early demise, she and her siblings were reared by their maternal grandparents, Dave and Gus Anne Askew Mathews.
At an early age, Mattie accepted Christ as her Savior and united with the Kellum Hill Baptist Church, now Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church, LaFayette, Alabama. Her education was obtained at the Rosenwald Elementary School and the Chambers County Training School where she completed the 11th grade. Times were not as they are today and the need for financial resources led her to leave school to enter the world of work as a domestic engineer and later to retire from West Point Pepperell, Langdale Mill.
As her journey continued, she met and united in Holy Matrimony with Mr. George Willie Frazier, Sr. and his five children; Viviene, Eddie Mae, George W., Amos C. and Sallye Mae. Her marriage also brought a new Christian fellowship. She united with the Mountain Springs Baptist Church and remained an active and faithful member for 74 years 355 days. Her kind and compassionate spirit can best be described by the following:
She was loving……
She was dedicated….
She was devoted….
She was committed….
She was dependable….
She was trustworthy….
She was motivational….
She was faithful….
She was talented….
She was God-fearing….
And to all she encountered, she was “Big Mama”. Many Sunday mornings would find her and Mr. Frazier traveling through the community picking up worshipers who otherwise would not have transportation to and from church. She was talented in reciting inspirational poems at various churches. Some favorites were, “When the Devil Goes to Church”, Heavens’ Grocery Store”, “High-Minded” and “The Pastor Has to Live”. Sister Frazier actively served in many ministries including: Member of the Senior Choir, President of Usher Ministry, Matron Counselor, Sunday School Teacher, Kitchen Committee, Ward Leader, Missionary Society, Communion Prep and the Board of Deaconess. “Big Mama” was preceded in death by her parents, grandparents, her husband, sisters, Maude A. McCoy, Eucealar Carwell, brother, L C Asberry, two daughters, Viviene, Eddie Mae Stokes, son-in-law, Nathaniel Davis and daughter-in-law, Frances Brown.
She is survived by her children: Sallye F. Davis, Cusseta, AL; George (Allison) Frazier, Stone Mountain, GA and Amos C. Brown, Smiths Station, AL; one sister, Annie Lee Chislom Gaiter, LaFayette, AL; a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews; a special niece, Eulalar Drake, LaFayette, AL; her play sister, Hattie Thomas, Salem, AL; other loving relatives and many friends.
The past five and-a-half years brought her much happiness and joy as the Receptionist at Davis Memorial Mortuary. She will be sorely missed. Mattie Mae Asberry Frazier departed this life on Wednesday, January 6, 2016 in East Alabama Medical Center, Opelika, Alabama.
“ I have fought a good fight, I finished my course, I kept the faith……”
Here you can watch Mrs. Mattie Mae Asberry Frazier deliver one of her many great poems. “The Pastor Has to Live” https://youtu.be/d6b06t7DUy4