Mary Lee Flanagan

Mary Lee Flanagan, daughter of the late William and Lucy Simms, was born on July 31, 1918 in Ellicott City, Maryland, the eldest of nine children. She departed this life on January 14, 2003.She married the late Charles Briscoe Duvall, and out of this union four children were born, Mary, Anita, Charles Jr. and Dorothy.Mary worked for many years as a school cafeteria supervisor in the Baltimore City Public Schools. Although her secondary education was interrupted, over the years she took various courses in food preparation, nutrition, bookkeeping, business and financial management and supervisory management. Mary developed expert knowledge of food preparation, nutrition and diet. She was always concerned that the school children received a healthy, nutritious, tasty lunch and she would often feed poor students who could not afford lunch at her own expense.Mary used her knowledge of food to also work with several Baltimore catering firms. She prepared creative and beautiful food and fruit displays that received numerous compliments. Her services were always in demand in the catering business. Mary was a self-made woman and if born at a later time, she would have been a successful business owner.She was a natural gardener, who could revive even the sickest plant. Her yards were always full of beautiful flowers and plants throughout the year. Even near the end, the sight of flowers could cheer up Mary.Mary instilled in her children a strong work ethic, the need to get as much education as possible, the necessity to earn one’s way in the world and to smartly manage finances.Also an excellent seamstress, she passed these skills along to her three daughters. She was the family historian who mentally kept track of the family tree, the various births, weddings, relationships and passings.She loved to travel and was fortunate to visit many places in the United States and Canada with her second husband, the late Leroy Flanagan.Mary was a very social person who made many friends, and who over the years belonged to and enriched many organizations including her church and the neighborhood Garden Club. She always visited and kept watch on the sick and elderly.She leaves to mourn: three daughters, Mary Harmon, Anita Wilson (Morris Sr.) and Dorothy Duvall Dennis; one son, Charles Briscoe Duvall, Jr.; three sisters, Martha Simms, Dorothy Harris, and Joan Sullivan (Sam); twelve grandchildren, twenty-one great grandchildren, eight great-great-grandchildren, a host of nieces and nephews, and many other relatives.

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Mary Lee Flanagan

July 31, 1918 - January 14, 2003