Mamie Dell Terry

1943 - 2023

Mamie Dell Terry was born September 22, 1943 in New Orleans, LA to her loving parents Jonas and Mamie Williams. Their blessed event spanned an eighty-year harvest of joy for all who knew their cherished daughter. She touched the lives of so many and left a lasting legacy of artistic design with her beautiful quilts, macramé art, sewing creations, and crochet accessories. Mamie Dell spent her early years in the New Orleans until the family relocated to St. Charles Parish. Here, they joined Greater Good Hope Baptist Church where Mamie Dell was baptized by the Rev. Dell Parker. Mamie Dell graduated from Mary McLeod Bethune High School in 1961. She was an exceptional student who enjoyed being involved in extracurricular activities. She blossomed on the high school basketball team and enjoyed being a teacher's aide for the lower grades. This sparked a desire to be an educator and Mamie Dell enrolled at Southern University in New Orleans (SUNO) after high school. Many seeds for future success were planted at SUNO. "Dell" as she was often called during her college years, majored in English education and minored in history. In addition to her studies, she enjoyed campus life and met her future husband Ernest C. Terry during this time. The couple would marry in 1964 and celebrate fifty-three wedding anniversaries. The newlyweds relocated to the Baton Rouge. Her professional career as an educator began shortly thereafter at J. F. Kennedy High School in Gonzales, LA. She later accepted a position as an English teacher at Second Ward High School in Edgard, LA. With her husband's job transfer, the couple moved to Houston, TX where she would spend the next twenty-five years as an educator with the Houston Independent School District. In Houston, Mamie Dell, her husband Ernest, and their two small children let God guide them to a new church home. After visiting several houses of worship, the family decided to join and help integrate Brentwood Baptist Church in 1974. During her almost half-century devotion to the church, Mamie Dell served as the Vacation Bible School Arts & Crafts Director, coordinator of the church's Cuddling Care Baby Shower, and as a leader of the annual Senior Adult Ministry (SAM) Black History Program. She was also an active member of Baptist Women Mission III, Thursday Noon Bible Study, Brentwood Quilting Circle, and the Sheltering Arms Volunteer Ministry. In addition to spiritual involvement, Mamie Dell stayed busy with civic, social, and community organizations. Mamie was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Alpha Kappa Omega Chapter, Houston Association of Retired Teachers, professional business organization Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc., and Southern University Alumni Association-Houston Chapter. She even became an entrepreneur with her home-based business "Dell's Pretty Things." Finally, Mamie Dell used her two "green thumbs" to compete in the annual Harris County Flower Shows where she won awards for her outstanding plants. She was a member of the Blue Triangle Garden Club and served as one of the past presidents. Her residential lawn and garden also received several commendations over the years from the Lakes of Fondren Homeowner's Association. Mamie Dell is preceded in death by her husband Ernest Charles Terry, Esq., her parents Mr. & Mrs. Jonas Williams, her sister Mabel Barconey, and brother George Pack, Sr. Mamie Dell is survived by her children Darron Charles Terry, Donna Lynette Newsome (Dr. Robert Newsome), grandchildren Amanda Christine Franklin (Xavier), Robert R. Newsome, Jr., and Melody C. Newsome. Her love will continue to bloom through her vast legacy garden filled with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, godchildren, and wonderful friends.