Mrs. Mary Lois Easter

In Loving Memory Of Mary Lois Brown was born February 1, 1934, in Willow Bend, AR to KC and Orean Brown, she was the second child of six born to this union; older sister – Helen, and younger siblings – Minnie, Billy, Betty, and Bobby. Mary Lois accepted Christ at an early age. She attended Morrilton Public Schools through high school, where she matured and earned her diploma; all the while, Mary worked hard picking cotton and other jobs to help support her family. She graduated from Sullivan High School in 1952, as she continued to work as a waitress saving money to move to Michigan with her aunt Linnie Mae Nabors. Soon after arriving to Detroit, she met her late husband, Marzell Lee Easter. To this union was born three children – Marshell Lois, Joshlyn Ronette, and Marzell Lee Jr. – and gained one stepson – Albert Vern. In the mid-1950s, Mary Lois joined her husband in service to God at Mt. Vernon Missionary Baptist Church on Jos Campau, under the late Rev. Green. Mary and Marzell were married, and all their kids were baptized at Mt. Vernon. She served on the usher board, was active in church community affairs, conducted Christian self-help workshops, and ensured her kids were at service every Sunday. Early in her time living in Detroit, her husband suggested that Mary become a beautician as his sisters were; she agreed and started to learn the new skill of hair styling. Mary Lois developed a Beauty Salon in her basement on Dexter Ave. as she continued to nurture her children through school. Unfortunately, in 1966, tragedy hit the Easter family as Marzell Sr. was called home earlier than expected. This sent Mary Lois into focusing on growing her beautician skills into a sustainable business, while continuing to diligently care for her young children. In fact, she was so active with the parental activities at the kids’ school (PTA, Girl Scouts, Lunch aid, and others), the principal offered the opportunity for Mary Lois to be a teacher’s aide at Custer Elementary, now named Thurgood Marshall Elementary School. Mary demonstrated her love for children’s education by continuing her pursuit of new knowledge herself. She first attended Wayne County Community College obtaining an Associate Degree. This led to Mary’s admittance into a teacher program that sent her to receive a Bachelor of Education from the University of Detroit at the tender age of 48! While teaching at Wilkins Elementary, she continued to develop in her Christian education as Mary Lois was called in 2001 to become one of the first women Deacons of Mt. Vernon MBC, under the late John H. Payne. As a member of the Board of Christian Education, Mary was an administrator and instructor during Vacation Bible School in the summers, and she was integral in initiating the Mt. Vernon Feeding Program that fed the community through the years. Later in her life serving God, under Rev. Warfield, she helped to start the Women of Wisdom with Mrs. Jackie Warfield. Mary Lois truly LOVED her duties of serving the Lord at Mt. Vernon – which truly she considered her extended family. She continued to serve at Mt. Vernon very actively and diligently until her health failed due to dementia; however, Mary Lois remained faithful to her Lord and Savior until called home and was proud to let everyone know she was a CHILD OF THE KING.

Mrs. Mary Lois Easter

February 1, 1934 - September 20, 2022