Mary Lee Gass

When we tell the life story of Mary Lee Gass, we recall a woman who was devoted to her family and friends. Our beloved Mary Lee Gass was born Mary Lee Holloman, the oldest of seven children, to the late Nathaniel and Sarah Holloman on January 4, 1925 in Bishopville South Carolina.

In the early 1930s, Mary attended Dennis elementary and high school. After graduating high school, Mary begin ushering at the Methodist church and she later relocated to Philadelphia PA in 1942. In April 1946, Mary met and married the late Henry Brooker. Two sons were born of this union, the late Henry Brooker Jr. and the late Howard Brooker. She later met and married the late Sampson Gass.

Mary started her first job at Miffin Chicken & Poultry where she worked for over 3 years and left to pursue her passion at Pennsylvania Hospital as a nurse assistant. She later worked as a seamstress for Al Cherry Sports for over 24 years until the factory closed. Mary performed a host of duties for the late Dr. Edward Shields and his family for over 20 years until she retired in March 2004.

In 1975, Mary was baptized at the 19th St. Baptist Church. Later, she became a devoted member of the Upper Room Baptist church where she enjoyed being an usher and helping others in her church family.

Mary had a great love for the lord and looked forward to attending church service regularly. Mary loved giving and helping others. She had a heart of gold. She loved to cook and bake for her family, loved to sew, plant flowers and her pets. Mary also loved volunteering at the neighborhood food banks.

The Lord called Mary home on November 5, 2025. She is preceded in death by her husband: Sampson Gass, 2 sons: Henry and Howard Brooker, 3 sisters: Helen, Annie Mae, Ruth, 1 brother: James, mother and father: Sarah and Nathaniel, 2 granddaughters: Michelle, Lee-Esther.

Mary leaves to cherish her memories- 1 sister: Julia, 5 granddaughters: Christine, Gloria, Denise, Vanee, and Andrea, nieces: Wilhelmina (affectionally known as Mina, Mary's daughter), Donna, Rhonda, Theresa, Lauren, Roxanne, 3 nephews: Anthony, Jimmy, Walter, and a host of great grands, great-great grands, family and friends.

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