Mary Lee, affectionately known as "Mama," "Big Mama," "Grandma," "Nanny," and "Big 50" to family and friends, was the only daughter and youngest of four children born to the late Johnnie and Mary "MaDear" Bennett Braden on December 2, 1926, in Lepanto, Arkansas. After the death of Johnnie Braden in 1927, MaDear remarried Johnnie B. "PawPaw" Haley and moved to Portageville, Missouri, in 1928with surviving children, Joe and Mary Lee. Our beloved mother traded her earthly crown for her heavenly crown on Friday morning, January 13, 2012,after being placed in comfort care at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, MO. Mary Lee was united in marriage to Leroy Martin on July 1, 1942. They were divorced. She remarried James Jones, Jr. on March 14, 1961. Both preceded her in death, in addition to her brother--Joseph (Uncle Joe) Braden; son--Roland Brown, Jr.; grandsons--Michael P. Lewis, June Jerome Martin, and Alaric L. Mosby; and niece--Kimberly Ann Braden. Joining New Bethel M.B. Church in Portageville in 1955, she served as a faithful member of the usher board and the mother board. She also served the local community as a youth leader for the Girl Scouts of America and 4-H clubs. Highly regarded by many in Portageville and surrounding communities, Mary Lee was recognizedas a master of many occupations. For many years she worked for several area families as a housekeeper including the DeLisle, Segal, Turner, and Wrather households. When she wasn't working for someone else, she worked for herself in various roles which consisted of beautician, caterer, and club owner, just to name a few. Leisure activities she enjoyed throughout the years were fishing and supporting stock car racing, professional wrestling, the baseball Cardinals, and the Los Angeles Lakers. She leaves to cherish her loving memories her children--Joelean Lewis (George) of Grand Rapids, MI; Maxine Henry (Phillip) of Chicago; Allean Mosby of Los Angeles; Robert L. Brown (Fannie) of Chicago; Ray D. Brown (Shirley) of Temple, TX; Larry J. Braden (Mattie) of Portageville; Angelis "Angie" Jones of Portageville; Bertha Moore (LaShawn) of Lilbourn, MO; and Sandra Jones of Portageville; daughter-in-law Dannie Brown of Chicago; sisters-in-law--Alberta Braden of Chicago; Frankie J. Byrd of Portageville; and Erma J. Perry of St. Louis; brother-in-law, Henry Jones of Blytheville, AR;38 grandchildren; 63 great-grandchildren; 50 great-great-grandchildren; "adopted" daughters--Brenda Garmon, Lula Parchell, Dorothy Partee, Karen Williams, and Mary Williamson;special friends--Lena Bradford, Martha Lewis, and Azalene Martin; and a host of relatives and friends who will miss her tremendously.