Mary E. Dean

MARY ELLEN DEAN (CARROLL) was born in Harlem, New York to William Carroll and Fannie Carroll (Booze) on May 7th, 1932. Her siblings Thomas, Earl, Howard, and Virginia are deceased. Mary was raised in Baltimore, Maryland as a sibling to her cousins, Geraldine, Irene, Pamela, Arthur Jr. and Hazel, Lola and Shirley, who are now deceased. Mary Ellen remained inseparable from Fannie Jackson (deceased), her first cousin, and her offspring throughout her life fostering a bond between their children. After a lengthy illness on April 28th, 2017 she completed her journey of life, while in the comforts of her home. Mary was educated in the Baltimore City Public School System along with training and work experiences. She was employed as a Private Duty Nurse during her young adulthood, which occurred quickly with added responsibility. She married Cornelius "Barney" Dean, who preceded her in death. From that union they were blessed with four beloved children: Steven Andrew, Norman Barney (deceased), Martina Victoria (Hawkins) and Vanessa Ellen (Jennings). Mrs. Dean always extended herself to her family, friends and neighbors offering positive support. As a result, our family grew and she was affectionately known as "Momma Dean". She always took it upon herself to be straight forward, withholding nothing in the choice of topic for conversation. She was sincere and most often abrupt in her speech "telling it like it is". She made known her concern with whomever, she spoke. She believed "understanding one another to be most important". Our memories of her sharing advice, wisdom, and love with anyone who had the patience to listen are long-lasting. Leaving to honor her memory: her loving children, cherished grandchildren, treasured great grandchildren, sister-in-law, Miriam Winder and a host of other relatives along with friends. Mrs. Dean, our mom was most happy when sharing and always willing to read God's word, the Bible with others. She lived a full life, working, traveling, and interacting with people from all walks of life. She left her listeners with something to think about... For difficult moments seek God For happy moments praise God For quiet moment worship God For painful moments trust God For every moment thank God Something to Think About Life is a theater - invite your audience carefully. Not everyone is holy enough and healthy enough to have a front row seat in our lives. There are some people in your life that need to be loved from a distance. It's amazing what you can accomplish when you let go, or at least minimize your time with draining, negative, incompatible, not-going-anywhere: relationships, friendships or fellowships! Observe the relationships around you. Pay attention to which ones lift and which ones lean? Which ones encourage and which ones discourage? Which ones are on a path of growth uphill and which ones are going downhill? When you leave certain people, do you feel better or feel worse? Which ones always have drama or don't really understand know and appreciate you and the gift that lies within you? The more you seek God and the things of God -- the more you seek quality the more you seek not just the hand of God but the face of God -- the more you seek things honorable -- the more you seek growth, peace of mind, love and truth around you, the easier it will become for you to decide who gets to sit in the FRONT ROW and who should be moved to the balcony of your life. You can't change people around you but you can change people you are around. Ask God for wisdom, discernment and choose wisely the people who sit in the front row of your life.

Tributes

Mary E. Dean

May 7, 1932 - April 28, 2017