Mattie Mae Locke

As we retrace the footprints of Mattie Mae Locke, we can only give thanks for the lives she touched and enriched along life’s journey. A loving woman,who was blessed to enjoy many of God’s blessings as a child, a sister, a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and a true friend.

On July 29, 1949, Arthur James and Bernice Matlock Locke celebrated the birth of a baby girl they named Mattie. At an early age she accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior and became a member of First Missionary Baptist Church in Sparkman where Rev. Louis A. Craig is pastor. Mattie was known to her family and friends also as “Moocho, Pam and Pamarama”. She was educated in Sparkman and excelled as a student and a basketball player. Mattie gave her time to care giving for others; she loved cooking, cleaning, and taking care of others. Spending quality time with her family was another highlight of her life. She will be deeply missed by all who were fortunate enough to have known her. Mattie was very outgoing and fun. She loved celebrating life whether it was a birthday, holiday or just a get together. Although Mattie’s life would seem too short to many, those who were touched by her understood that the quality of her existence far exceeded the quantity of time many of us spent with her.

Ecclesiastes teaches us that: To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the Heaven:.....and on Monday, August 20th in her 69th season of life, she traded time for eternity.

Those awaiting her arrival are her father, Arthur James Locke, her brother Leandrew”Bay Bay” Locke, her two sisters Martha Jean Locke and Ethel Faye Newborn and other special family members and friends. She leaves in God’s care: her beloved mother Bernice Locke of Milwaukee, WI: three devoted and caring children, LaRhonda Faye Locke of Milwaukee, WI, Glenn Evans Lock of Phoenix, AZ, and Shantell Marie Locke of Davenport, IA; two sisters, Shirley Curry of Milwaukee, WI, and Helen Dailey of Houston, TX; four brothers, James (Gloria) Locke of Rockford, IL, Dennis (Paula) Locke of Bodcaw, AR, David Locke of Sparkman, AR, and Jesse Locke of Milwaukee, WI; six grandchildren Tyler, Amir, Ramona, Shamone, Marquist and Danielle; seven great-grandchildren and one on the way; two aunts, Juanita Locke of Cleveland, OH and Ailene Matlock of Malvern, AR; two uncles Hosea Locke of Cleveland, OH and Richard Matlock of Rockford, IL; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and numerous friends. As we honor the passing of this loving daughter, sister, mother, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend, may we continue to celebrate her life.

The Locke family has planned a service of Celebration and Thanksgiving honoring the life of their beloved Mattie Mae Locke, to be held on Saturday, August 25, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. in the sanctuary of First Missionary Baptist Church in Sparkman. Rev. L.A. Craig, the pastor, will preach the celebration message. The committal service and final resting place will be at Harmony Cemetery in Sparkman, Arkansas. Those who want to respectively view Miss. Locke may do so, on Friday, August 24th from 12:00 noon until 7:00 p.m. at Mitchell Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 6-7 p.m. and share the Images of Life DVD.

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