Mary Catherine Josey

Mary Magdalene Catherine Pankey Josey, a resident of Suffolk, VA, passed into eternal rest on October 2, 2018, in Portsmouth, VA after suffering cardiac arrest in her home September 29. She was 72 years old. Born in Brooklyn, NY on December 1, 1945 to Pearl Gowins and Lacey Pankey. Mary grew up in Brooklyn surrounded by a large and loving extended family, including her grandparents FJegg and Alice Gowins. She met her future husband and the love of her life, Herb Josey, Sr., in 1959 in Brooklyn and they were married May 5, 1962. They moved to Hempstead, NY in 1964, where they raised ten children: Herb Jr., Andrea, Kevin, Karen, Keith, Angela, Melissa, Lawrence, Gregory and Kevin Butler; and her sister, Christal. In Hempstead, Mary was a loving mother and cherished member of the community who worked in a variety of jobs, most notably as a community organizer in Nassau County, where she helped needy and disenfranchised people get food, shelter and medical care. In 1982, Mary opened and ran a successful daycare business for 12 years. In 1994, she and Herb started a new chapter in their lives and moved to Suffolk, VA. She joined Grove Baptist Church, started a daycare business and became a foster parent, enriching the lives of many children and others who needed her loving care. While at Grove, Mary acquired her Evangelism license through the Mt. Carmel Baptist Church Mission School of Evangelism, where she later became an instructor. Mary was an integral part of the Women's Ministry, the SHAMMAH Ministry, and sang in the Mass Choir. Mary loved bowling and playing Bid Whist - especially teaming up with her cousin, Carol, to beat all comers, especially their husbands; she managed the Futuristic R & B band featuring Herb as lead vocalist. She loved to watch murder mysteries, especially British murder mysteries like Ms. Marple and Midsomer Murders. She also enjoyed cooking shows. Mary was predeceased by her daughter, Andrea, her mother and father, Pearl and Albert, and her sisters Patricia, Louise and Roslyn. Mary is survived by her loving husband, Herbert and their children; Herb Jr., (Melanie); Kevin (Lisa); Karen (Jeff); Keith (Susanne); Angela (Terrence); Lawrence (Vickie); Gregory; Kevin B; Sam and Tyree. Mary is also survived by her siblings Olivia, Gisele, Alicia, Patricia, Annette, Marie, Arnice, Deborah, Lacy Jr., Michael Ray and Christal; 28 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; her loving sister in law, Medesa; her cousin, Carol and her husband, Claude; her lifelong best friend Pearl Hightower; and a host of loving family and friends. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Proverbs 31 :30

Mary Catherine Josey

December 1, 1945 - October 2, 2018