Obituaries – Their Stories Live On

Mrs. Mary Lomax Berger, 98, of Ft. Washington, MD formerly of Eccles, WV passed Wednesday, November 23, 2022.

Mary was born May 30, 1924 in Osaka, VA to the late Adam Brown and Texana Brown.

Mary was preceded in death by husband’s John Lomax and George Berger; son, James Lomax; four brothers, Eddie Brown, Adam Brown Jr., Ollie Brown and James Wagner; and three sisters, Willie Joe Reed, Athena Johnson and Lilly Borders.

Mary grew up in Eccles, WV and accepted Christ as her personal Lord and Savior at an early age. After attending High School at Stratton in Beckley, WV, Mary moved to Detroit, where she worked in a factory towards the war efforts. She was also studying to become a nurse’s aide. She moved back to WV to take care of her ailing father where she was then married and had six children. Mary loved the Lord and was a faithful member of Shady Grove Baptist Church, Eccles where she served as the Church Clerk, and member of the choir. She also wore many other hats and served as needed. Not only did Mary serve in the church, she served in the community. Mary would be called on at anytime day or night and she would grab her son, Gene (Richard) and say “let’s go” and off they would go to check on someone in the community, where she would do whatever was required to help. She was the epitome of the word “servant “and she did it from her heart. Mary did this while raising six children and working full time. If she was tired and weary no one ever knew because Mary never complained. Up until her last breath, when asked “How are you feeling”, she would always reply “I’m fine, the Lord woke me up this morning”

Mary worked as a domestic for many years as well as served as a surrogate mother for Joseph Smith, for one of the families she worked for in Beckley WV. She moved to MD in 2001, where she was able to do her most favorite thing in the world and that was to take care of and spoil her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and they lovingly referred to her as “Granny/Big Momma/Grandma”. One of her greatest pleasures was to cook soul food Sunday dinners and she did this every Sunday where the family would gather and fellowship. Not only did she love to cook for her family, she cooked for family friends and neighbors. Mary was also known for her class and style. She was a true “fashionista”. In her later years, Mary enjoyed watching tv and if you called her and asked her, "what are you doing?", her favorite phrase would be “I’m sitting on it”.

She became a member of Greater St John Cathedral in Upper Marlboro. Even though Mary gave birth to six children, she was a mother to many and they referred to her as “Mama Mary”.

Mary is survived by five children, Sharon Belcher, Clarise Agbenyeke (Selasi), Cynthia Copney (Ronald), Richard Lomax (EOTree), and Vergie Flowers; goddaughters, Maura Johnson (Arline), and Tiffany Diane Carter and Sister/Cousin, Norma Van Essen; thirteen grandchildren; twenty-two great-grandchildren; three great-great- grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral service will be 12:00PM Saturday, December 10, 2022 at Heart of God Ministries 1703 S. Kanawha St. Beckley with Bishop Fred T. Simms officiating. Burial will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Prosperity.

Friends, while wearing masks and observing social distancing, may view and visit with the family one hour prior.

Email condolences to ritchiejohnsonfuneralparlor@gmail.com.

Arrangements entrusted to Ritchie & Johnson Funeral Parlor, Beckley.