Mary Brice Sammons

Beloved, Mary Sammons (Brice) of Chattanooga, TN passed away on January 31, 2018, at age 94. She was born March 5, 1923, in York County, SC to Minnie Phillips and was raised by her aunt and uncle, Daisy and Young Brice. 

Mary grew up in Rock Hill, SC. She enjoyed fishing, cooking and working in the church. Once she had her children, she relocated to Tennessee to be closer to her mother and for employment opportunities after World War II. She moved to Oak Ridge, lived in the government huts in Scarboro, and later purchased a home on Spelman Avenue. 

She joined the fellowship of Mt. Zion Baptist Church under Reverend C.C. Fuller and used her culinary gifts to help raise funds to construct the present-day sanctuary. She also led the senior and junior ushers.

After more than 20 years in Oak Ridge, Mary moved to Chattanooga where she opened M&S Café on Market Street. A natural entrepreneur, she also maintained a small business selling cookies, cakes, fried pies and southern chow-chow relish. In Chattanooga, she became a member and served on the Mothers Board of Orchard Knob Baptist Church. 

Preceding her in death: her dear daughter, Mary Burgess Johnson of Detroit, MI passed in July 2016; her brother, Willie “Bill” Brice (Eddie) of Atlanta, GA; her granddaughters: Tonja Burse, of Ocean Springs, MS and Barbara Brice-Brown, Esq. of Upper Marlboro, MD; and her husbands: Harvey Johnson of Oak Ridge, TN and Burgess Sammons of Chattanooga, TN. 

Left to cherish her memory: two sons: Willie Brice (Greta) of Cleveland, TN and Ernest Brice, Jr. (Barbara) of Upper Marlboro, MD; granddaughters: Donna (Stuart) McDermott, Suteka Brice, Kimberly Burgess; grandsons: Dwight Bradford, Ernest Brice, III and Levon Swafford; great-grandchildren: Ebony Brice, Sean Brice, Starla Brice, Steven Burgess (Jessica), Shamarr Burgess, Philip Burse, Nathan Burse, Gabriel Burse, Brice Sharp (Amber); great-great- grandchildren: Jacqueline Brice, Willie Brice, Mason Burgess, Naomi Burgess and Mason Burse. She will be fondly missed by her daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Brice; three step-sons: Thaddeus, Darrell and Galen Sammons and a host of other cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends. 

Friday, February 9, 2018, the body may be viewed from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm at the Patton Funeral Home Chapel, 265 Fair Street, SE Cleveland, TN 37311.

Saturday, February 10, 2018, the family will receive friends from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. with a homegoing celebration to follow at Mount Zion Baptist Church, 195 Wilberforce Ave, Oak Ridge, TN. Elder T. L. Mims officiating.  Interment to immediately follow at Oak Ridge Memorial Park where a white dove release will conclude the service.  Flowers may be delivered to the church the morning of the service.  Professional arrangements entrusted to Patton Funeral Home, Brian L. Buckmon, LFD 1-800-824-8283 or www.pattonfuneralhome1962.com

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