Celebration of Life honoring Mrs. Mary Lee Butler Harper

A V I R T U O U S W O M A N C E L E B R AT E D

Mrs. Mary Lee Butler Harper “Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.”

Proverbs 31:29

C E L E B R AT I O N O F L I F E

Mrs. Mary Lee Butler Harper March 6, 1933 – June 14, 2022 Friday, June 24, 2022 11:00 A.M. St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church 1301 37th Street South St. Petersburg, Florida 33711 The Reverend Brian K. Brown, Pastor Officiating

Mrs. Mary Lee Butler Harper “A Life Remembered”

Mary Lee (Butler) Harper, affectionately known as “Mollie,” was born in Cochran, Georgia, March 6, 1933, to the late Moses Butler, Sr. and Marietta Smith Butler. The second of four children, Mary was preceded in death by her husband, parents, stepmother, Gertrude Butler, brothers, Moses, Jr. and George, a grandson, Sean Williams, a son-in-law, Lee Otis Jenkins, and other family members.

Mary was reared and educated in Cochran, Georgia before relocating to St. Petersburg, Florida where she continued her education and completed an adult education program in Pinellas County. Later, she met and married the love of her life, Mr. Silas Harper, Jr. They remained united until his death in 2010. They were blessed with two daughters whom they nurtured and guided into adulthood. After her husband’s death, Mary continued to reside in St. Petersburg, Florida.

She lived there for over seven decades. Faced with a health challenge, she joined her daughters and their families in the metropolitan area of Atlanta, Georgia where she resided until her death.

With a fervent love of the Lord, Mary accepted Christ at an early age and joined the Green Grove Baptist Church in Cochran, Georgia. After moving to St. Petersburg, Florida, she united with St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Reverend W. J. Glover.

While a member of St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church, Mary participated in Sunday School, Baptist Training Union (BTU), The Special Chorus, and the Pastor’s Aide Committee and Mission group. Because of her love of Jesus Christ, she counted it a blessing to be a servant of the Lord.

In keeping with the Baptist Church Covenant which instructs that, “when we remove from this place [of worship], we engage as soon as possible to unite with some other church to carry out the principle of God’s Word,” Mary did just that. Away from her home church, St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church, she joined Beulah Missionary Baptist Church under Watch-care. Out of obedience and with a servant’s heart, she committed to further carry out the “spirit of the covenant” under the Pastorate of the Reverend Dr. Jerry D. Black and did so until her health declined.

Mary Lee Harper was a devoted wife, mother, and worker, and a loving grandmother, great-grandmother, and sister. With a sweet, quiet, and easy-going spirit, she, too, was loved and admired by many. A strong and caring woman of God, she always saw the best in others and was untiringly willing to assist and lend a helping hand. A true example of a Proverbs 31 woman, Mary spent a lifetime following the principles and teachings of Jesus by serving others in her family, church, and community through her self-established “Ministry of Helps.”

In the early years of employment, Mary worked as a domestic engineer. Throughout her time in this position, she cared for and nurtured three young children who, even now, as seasoned adults, still express their love, adoration, and great respect for—Ms. Mollie. After completing that work, she began what became her life-long career with the Pinellas County School System from which she retired in 2003, having worked thirty-five years.

To the delight of many, Mary was a great cook and culinary guru! Some of her premier dishes enjoyed by family, friends and strangers were her sweet potato pies, cornbread dressing, bread pudding, potato salad, macaroni and cheese and homemade biscuits. At five years old, her twin grandsons, Dwayne and Derrick, named her “the best cook in the whole round world”.

Mary, who loved the Lord with all her heart, maintained a profound love for her late husband, and loved her daughters, family, church members, and friends. With her trust in the Lord, and the unwavering support and care of family, this love did not diminish when she was faced with the slow debilitation of Alzheimer’s. As God promised in His Word to Solomon, to everything, there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven. With her earthly body having gotten weary, her purpose and season, here, were fulfilled according to God’s timing when, on the morning of June 14, 2022, she transitioned to her new location--a heavenly home. She fought a good fight of faith, finished her course, and now, this virtuous woman, Mrs. Mary Lee Butler Harper-“Mollie,” has received her crown!

As we celebrate her legacy, she leaves to cherish her memory, two daughters, Dorothy Harper Jenkins and Judy Harper (Vincent) Stretcher; grandsons, Derrick (Tamika) Jenkins, Dwayne Jenkins and Rodney (Jacinta) Williams, all of Metro Atlanta; a devoted sister, Arssie Williams and a sister-cousin, Gladys Stevenson, both of St. Petersburg, FL; sisters-in-law, Catherine Butler, Tampa, FL, Julia Latimore, Carrie (David) Brown, Dorothy Jones, and Reverend Mattie Greene, all of St. Petersburg, FL, Annie Pearl Major, Charleston, S. C., and Naomi Harper, of Atlanta and St. Petersburg, FL.; brother-in-law Thomas (Karetha) Harper, Stafford, VA; six great-grandchildren, Chelsea, Daijah, Donovan, Deia, Taylin and Solari, and a host of loving nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins, friends, and neighbors; and the friends and members of the St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church, the Reverend Brian K. Brown, Pastor and Beulah Missionary Baptist Church, the Reverend Dr. Jerry D. Black, Pastor.

Order of Service THE PR EL U DE Minister of Music

THE PR O C ES S IO N AL

“Moving On Up a Little Higher” – Minister Mattye Lane

THE MUSIC AL S EL EC TIO N

St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church Praise Team

THE PRAYER O F CO N S O L ATIO N

Minister Anthony Miffin – St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church

THE SCRIPTU R E R EADIN G Old Testament

Reverend Mattie Greene – New Philadelphia Worship Center, St. Petersburg, FL

New Testament

Reverend Dr. Katurah Jenkins Hall, Associate Pastor – New Dawn Restoration Center, Tampa, FL

T HE TRIBUTES OF REM EM BR AN C E (Three Minutes, Please) CHURCH MEMBER Deacon John Washington GRANDSONS Mr. Dwayne A. Jenkins and Mr. Derrick R. Jenkins SISTER Ms. Arssie Williams FAMILY FRIEND Dr. Lorraine Harris

THE RES OLUTIONS A N D AC KN O WL EDG EM EN TS Ms. Belinda Green, Church Clerk

THE MU S IC AL TR IBUTE

Mrs. Ruby Jenkins-Rogers – Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, St. Petersburg, FL

THE EUL O G Y

The Reverend Brian K. Brown, Pastor – St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church

THE R EC ES S IO N AL INTER M EN T

Royal Palm Cemetery South . 101 55th Street South . St. Petersburg, Florida

“When Tomorrow S tarts Without Me” When tomorrow starts without me, and I’m not there to see; If the sun should rise and find your eyes all filled with tears for me; I wish so much you wouldn’t cry the way you did today, While thinking of the many things we didn’t get to say.

I know how much you love me, as much as I love you, And each time you think of me I know you’ll miss me too; But when tomorrow starts without me, please try to understand, That an angel came and called my name and took me by the hand, And said my place was ready in heaven far above, And that I’d have to leave behind all those I dearly love But as I turned to walk away, a tear fell from my eye, For all my life, I’d always thought I didn’t want to die.

I had so much to live for and so much yet to do, It seemed almost impossible that I was leaving you.

I thought of all the yesterdays, the good ones and the bad, I thought of all the love we shared and all the fun we had, If I could relive yesterday, I thought, just for a while, I’d say goodbye and kiss you and maybe see you smile.

But then I fully realized that this could never be, for emptiness and memories Would take the place of me And when I thought of worldly things that I’d Miss come tomorrow, I thought of you and when I did, my heart was filled with Sorrow. But when I walked through heaven’s gates, I felt so much at home.

When God looked down and smiled at me, from His great golden throne, He said, “This is eternity and all I’ve promised you.

So when tomorrow starts without me don’t think we’re far apart, For every time you think of me, I’m right there, in your heart.

Author Unknown

A Limb Has Fallen from The Family Tree A limb has fallen from the family tree.

I keep hearing a voice that says “Grieve not for me.

Remember the best times, the laughter, the song.

The good life I lived while I was strong.

Continue my heritage, I’m counting on you.

Keep smiling and surely the sun will shine through.

My mind is at ease, my soul is at rest.

Remembering all, how I truly was blessed.

Continue traditions, no matter how small.

Go on with your life, don’t worry about falls.

I miss you all dearly, so keep up your chinUntil the day comes, we’re together again.”

Author Unknown

PA L L B E A R E R S Grandsons and Nephews

Derrick R. Jenkins Rodney Williams Andre Stevens

Dwayne A. Jenkins Dwight Latimore Robert Williams, Jr.

F L O W E R AT T E N D A N T S Granddaughters and Nieces

Daijah Jenkins Taylin Jenkins

ZyKiria Edwards

Deia Jenkins LaToya Davis

H O N O R A R Y PA L L B E A R E R S A N D F L O W E R AT T E N D A N T S Deacon Board Deaconess Board St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for the outpouring of love, kindness and support shown during the illness and passing of our loved one, Mrs. Mary Lee Butler Harper. This journey has been extremely painful and difficult. You are a gift from God. We have truly experienced His love through your expressions of kindness. Your prayers have uplifted and encouraged us while sharing our pain and sorrow, and assuring us we were not alone. We extend special gratitude to the Beulah Missionary Baptist Church, St Mark Missionary Baptist Church, the staff of CARE ONE, and Lotus Blossom Hospice and Palliative Care for the tender and loving care shown to our loved one. Although words cannot adequately convey our appreciation, we will never forget you and your acts of kindness. Please continue to keep us in your daily thoughts and prayers. May God’s richest blessings always abide with you.

The Family of Mrs. Mary Lee Butler Harper

Purple is the signature color representing Alzheimer’s Disease.

The purple ribbons worn are in honor of Mary Lee Butler Harper.

Services Entrusted to Donald Trimble Mortuary, Inc. 1876 Second Avenue Decatur, Georgia

Lawson Funeral Home & Crematory 4535 Central Avenue St. Petersburg, Florida