Florence May Kathryn Booker

Life Reflections Florence May Kathryn Booker, also known as Catherine Florence May Booker, Mama, Grandma, Great Grandma, Sister Booker, and “Kat”, 86 years of age from Baltimore, Maryland, peacefully transitioned from this earthly plane of existence on October 25, 2023, at Keswick Multi-Care Center with her oldest daughter and overall caregiver, Veronica Vernee Brown, who emphatically and unconditionally loved her, by her side. She was born to the late Linden Booker and Josephine Mason, of Virginia, on October 7, 1937 in Baltimore, Maryland. According to Sister Booker, her biological mother died giving birth to her, and she never knew her father. As such, she was lovingly raised by her birth mother’s close friend, the late Sarah Williams. Sister Booker matriculated through the Baltimore City school system, attending Paul Laurence Dunbar High School. In 1958, she gave birth to her first child, Daniel, followed a couple of years later by her other son, Manuel, and then her daughters Veronica and Jerlynn. Sister Booker was a dedicated mother to her children, in every sense of the word, often sacrificing her own personal desires and goals for the betterment of her children. It was of the upmost importance to her that she gave them opportunities that that she did not have herself. After securing, educating, and raising her family, she entered the workforce in her early forties and worked with My Cleaning Service, which provides housekeeping services for the Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies in Linthicum, Maryland until her legal age of retirement. Sister Booker was an innately no-nonsense, brilliant woman and lifelong learner. She educated herself by traveling. She enjoyed taking cruises with friends and travelling throughout the United States and internationally as well, taking trips to Canada and Haiti. In addition to that, she also loved reading. Sister Booker most loved reading the Bible. A devoted member of First Charity Baptist Church for many decades, she not only read the Word of God, but she also did her best to navigate the unique peaks and valleys of womanhood and motherhood while living out the Word. She was proud, unbowed and unbroken. As Sister Booker would often say, “You better keep it altogether honey, huh!” Sister Booker is survived by her four adult offspring: Veronica Vernee Brown and Jerlynn Booker of Baltimore and Manuel and Daniel Brown of Durham, North Carolina; six grandchildren: Omari Brown of Baltimore, Iesha Mack (Gerald) of Durham, Sandra Baumgartner (Austin) of Cincinnati, Idris Brown of New York, Dinisha Brown-Jones (Antiono) of Syracuse, and Hiba Ali of Atlanta; bonus granddaughter: Cusheer Murphy; and 10 great-grandchildren: Makayla Brown, Angel Jones, Marla Fenner, Sara Fenner, Antonio Fenner, Toni Fenner, Cherish Fenner, Nova Mack, Phoenix Baumgartner, Harley Baumgartner, and Eden Baumgartner. Preceding Sister Booker in transitioning from this physical life was her second oldest daughter, who passed away shortly after birth, for whom Jerlynn is named, Sarah “Ma’am” Williams, and siblings Loretta Waters, James “Micky” Webb, and Leroy Sylvester Waters Jr.

Tributes

Florence May Kathryn Booker

October 7, 1937 - October 25, 2023