Mary Magdaline Grier

Mary Magdeline Kollore was born the eldest child to Jacob Kollore and Elizabeth Funnie on August 29, 1922 in Manhattan, New York.She had three younger brothers, James, Lowell and Adolphus.She resided most of her young life in New Rochelle, New York and attended New Rochelle High School.She married Tommy Mention and they had three children:Lamont, Lillene and Bonita.She moved to Washington, D.C. and worked for United Transformer, a government entity.Tommy passed away and she was widowed by the time she was 22.She later met and married Marshall Grier, Jr. and they had two girls, Marchelle and Daphne.They resided most of their life as a family in Queens, New York.Besides nurturing her children, Marys hobbies were knitting, crochet, and sewing.She made most of her own clothes and special occasion clothes for her children.Due to her attention to detail her sewn creations had store-bought quality.The intricate knitted sweaters that she made were sought after by family and friends alike.Mary was also an avid reader and enjoyed watching the news as well as visiting the racetrack and following the horses at Off Track Betting. Mary was a typist for advertising firm, Doyle Dane Bernbach and later retired as a statistical typist with the accounting firm, BDO Seidman.While Mary enjoyed her retirement, she still wanted to be active and took an administrative position at York College, which she retired from at age 80.Mary loved animals and had many dogs and cats through the years.Her favorite was a golden retriever that she and Lamont shared named Allie. In 2007 when her beloved son Lamont passed, she decided to leave Queens, New York and join three of her daughters in Mesquite, Texas.Her family loved having her in close proximity and she was able to attend her grand and great-grandchildrens many functions and all of the family get-togethers.She was a fierce believer in education and never missed an opportunity to encourage her grandchildren to strive academically.Mary frequently stated that she always wanted a sister and how thankful she was to have four daughters.Together they formed a sister-like bond and her daughters often sought her companionship.Mary lived independently, watched primarily news shows, golf and tennis on television and kept fit by walking her dog at least four times a day.More youthful than her age, she exhibited generally good health until she suffered a stroke in July 2012.It was at this time she moved in with her daughter Daphne until her death.Her devoted family will miss most her outspoken honesty, determination, loyalty, and loving manner toward her family.Her warm smile brightened the room and everyone loved having her around. Mary passed quietly in her sleep with her family around her on June 8, 2013 -- just two months shy of her 91st birthday.Mary is predeceased by her parents, her brother James Kollore, son Lamont Mention and grandson Robert Born Brown. She is survived by her brothers, Lowell Kollore and Adolphus Kollore; her daughters, Lillene Claxton MacGregor, Bonita Brown, Marchelle Brooks, and Daphne Grier; son in laws Cecil Collins, Anthony Brooks, Larry Hawkins and Clinton Payne; nine grandchildren Karen Claxton Abramson, John Claxton, Vincent Claxton, Niema Brown, Quia Querisma, Jerome Hawkins, Jr., Christopher Hawkins, Amanda Hawkins, and Kevin Brooks.Her twelve great-grandchildren are Tarell Brown, Jamel Brown, Nina Abramson, Kolton Durant, Nailah Brown, Leah Abramson, Quiana Querisma, Aleigha Hawkins, Brandon Howard, Devin Wilson Brooks, Jayden Greenleaf and Christopher Hawkins, Jr.; and two great-great grandchildren, Edrick and Takyla Brown.Mary also leaves behind many friends, both lifelong and recent, whom she dearly loved.