Mary Steele Reese was born in Kenbridge, Virginia on July 8, 1908.
She and her twin, Ida, were the second and third additions to John and
Blanche Reese's growing family.In 1925, Mary and Ida moved north to be closer to their paternal cousins, the Ragsdales, in Pittman, New Jersey. They settled in Bloomfield, Essex County, in order to take advantage of work opportunities. The rest of the Reese family, and Mary's sweetheart, Thomas Booker, soon followed the twins to New Jersey.
On October 2, 1926, Mary married Thomas M.
Booker in Bloomfield. After settling into their new
home at 24 Henry Street in Bloomfield, two children: Naomi and
Thomas were born.
Thomas M. Booker worked as a contractor in and around Montclair- most notably for a business owned by the McPherson family. In 1930, Thomas contracted Tuberculosis, and honoring his wish to "die at home," Mary accompanied him back to Virginia. He died on Friday, June 6, 1930 in Kenbridge, where he was buried on the Booker family farm. For the remainder of her life, Mary remained a devoted daughter, sister-in-law and friend to the extended Booker clan in New Jersey and Virginia.
On April 19, 1935, Mary Booker married James Goodman in New York City. Of this marriage, one son, James, Jr. , was born. Mary was widowed for the second time when James, Sr. passed away in July, 1968.
"Aunt Mamie" as she was known to her nieces and nephews, spent the remaining years of her life at the Reese family home on Madison Avenue in Montclair. She passed away on September 27, 1993- thirteen days after the birth of her first great-great -grandchild, Kiana Michelle Terry. Her surviving descendants include two children: Naomi Brandon and Thomas Booker, Jr.; five grandchildren: Alonzo Brandon, Jr., Roslyn Terry, Barry Brandon, Thomas Booker, III. and Craig Brandon; eight great-grandchildren and six great-great grandchildren.
