Mattie Lee Palmer

Mattie Lee Williams Palmer, the only child of Abe and Inia Payne Williams, was born in Chancy, Georgia on December 25, 1910. Around the age of eight her family relocated to Cincinnati, Ohio. Sister Palmer's father, a Deacon, and her mother, a Deaconess and Mother of the Church, visited the sick and shut-ins. Sister Mattie accompanied her parents during these visits and at a very young age became interested in missionary work and care of the ill. Her parents, with little Mattie in tow, often attended revival meetings. Sister Mattie often recounted the day of her conversion to Christ as she heard the church singing "Jesus said whosoever will, Let Him Come." She anxiously ran up to the altar crying, "They're singing to me... they are singing to me." This revelation helped to began her dedicated service to the Lord. In 1927, Sister Mattie organized The Willing Workers Club of Prospect Baptist Church, in Cincinnati, Ohio where she also served on the senior choir and was known for her strong contralto voice. She immediately joined the church and was baptized at the age of nine. In 1929, Sister Mattie graduated from Dyer High School and during her junior and senior years she expressed a strong interest in nursing. On May 5, 1931, Sister Palmer and Brother Jesse Palmer were joined together in Holy Matrimony. In 1933, the couple moved to Baltimore, Maryland and joined the Enon Baptist Church where Rev. A. J. Payne was pastor. In 1951 Sister Mattie and Brother Jesse Palmer along with their infant daughter Marietta Lois joined Gospel Tabernacle Baptist Church. It was there that her beloved husband was called into the Ministry where he served faithfully until his death in 1979. Sister Mattie served alongside her husband in many capacities. She was Secretary to the Deaconess Board, member of the Senior Choir, member of the Pastor's Aid, founder of the Nurses Guild, which included the children's groups, The Aidettes, The Aiders and the Rose Buds. She was also a Vacation Bible School, Baptist Training Union and Sunday School Teacher, Girl Scout Leader and Founder of the Reviving Prayer Band. With all the activities surrounding her beloved husband and church, Sister Mattie never forgot her first calling, nursing. In pursuit of that calling she graduated in 1948 from the Saint Paul School of Nursing in Baltimore, Maryland where she received her certification as a Licensed Practical Nurse. Her nursing career started in Baltimore's only African American owned and operated hospital, Provident Hospital of Baltimore. She retired from full time nursing in 1969, but continued to provide private duty nursing on an on-call basis in addition to becoming part of the clergy volunteer staff. As a resident of the Bel Park Tower Senior Citizen Community, she became a Booster for the Interdenominational Religious Services. She served in several community-based organizations. Sister Mattie had two sayings, #1 - "May the work I've done speak for me" and #2 - "I would rather wear out than rust out." In 1986, Sister Mattie, at the insistence of her daughter, relocated to Gaithersburg, Maryland where she lived with her daughter and family. In that same year she joined the Popular Grove Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. James E. Prather and after his death, the Rev. Joseph W. Austin. She continued her services to God in many capacities, such as member of the Deaconess Board, member of both the Mass Choirs and the Voices of Inspiration. Sister Mattie used to say often that she really enjoyed the "little church by the side of the road." In 1997, Sister Mattie suffered her second stroke and agreed with her family that she needed around the clock nursing care. She willingly accepted her new life at the Mariner Health Care Center in Kensington. Within a few months of her arrival she did what she did best, organize. Within a few months of her arrival at Mariner, Sister Mattie scheduled their first "real Baptist service" which was held every Sunday at 1:30 p.m. From the phone in her room, she was able to recruit ministers to volunteer their services to Mariner, in addition to choirs, not only from her own church, but many others. She drafted her daughter, Marietta and her daughter's Christian Sister, Bernadette to play musical instruments for their services. Sister Mattie often reminded her daughter and others that "the family that prays together stays together." So, in order to feel a part of the Palmer/Smith Family, she asked to visit her daughter's church located in Silver Spring, MD. In early 2003, after attending only two services, Sister Mattie joined Mt. Jezreel Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Eldridge Spearman. During that time she was appointed by the pastor as a "Deacon Emeritus." Sister Mattie attended services as often as her health permitted. Sister Mattie departed this life on Monday, February 14th at 6:42 a.m. Sister Mattie leaves to mourn: her loving daughter, Marietta L. Smith and her fiancŽ Arthur M. Freeman Jr.; three grandchildren, Monica L. Dixon-Davis and son-in-law, Ledrew E. Davis, Anissa L. DeLuca and son-in-law, Russell A. DeLuca and Kevin L. Dixon; also, four great-grandchildren, D'Arron L. Dixon, Yuana L. Davis, Mackenzie Mattie DeLuca and Jessie L. Dixon; and one great-great-grandson D'arron L. Dixon Jr.; two sisters-in-law, Lula Palmer and Mae Palmer of Cincinnati, Ohio; and a host of other relatives and friends.

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Mattie Lee Palmer

February 25, 1910 - February 14, 2005