Mary Lee (Turner) Boddie

Mary Lee Boddie was born January 22, 1936 to Duckett and Mattie (McDaniel) Turner in Florence, Alabama.  Mary accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior and was baptized at a young age.  During Mary's childhood, she went to live with her Aunt Hattie in Nashville, Tennessee.  While living with her aunt, Mary learned how to keep a home and to play the piano.  Mary enjoyed playing the piano and spent time being a pianist for her church and also sang in the choir. 

In 1953, Mary moved to Lima, Ohio where she had her first born son, James “Jimmie” Turner.  Not long after, Mary moved to Patterson, New Jersey where she had her second son, Fate T. Stewart Jr. in 1955.  After leaving New Jersey in 1957, Mary moved her family to Fort Wayne, Indiana where she lived out the rest of her life. 

Upon moving to Fort Wayne, Mary was now known to many by her nickname, Jackie, which is what most people know her by today.  In 1963 Jackie married John Boddie and worked at the Harvester until she retired in 1980.  During this time, Jackie also completed her education.  While in Fort Wayne, Jackie served as a devoted usher at True Love Missionary Baptist Church under the pastorate of the late Rev. Dr. Jesse White and was a member of the Eastern Star and worked part-time at An Impulse Florist.  Jackie later joined Victory Worship Center pastored by the Rev. David L. Moore.

Mary was known by many names, Mama, Maylee, Peewee, Madea, Jackie, Granny, Grandma, Auntie, Cousin and Friend.  She loved spending time with her family, her grands, great grands, great-great-grands and close friends, laughing, talking and playing cards.  Mary also enjoyed watching basketball, Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy.  

Jackie, was a devoted friend.  Her home was always open as a place of refuge for those who needed it, and she was ALWAYS there when you needed her.  Jackie was an excellent cook!  Iron Chef had nothing on her.  Nobody could touch her dressing, greens, liver and onions, potato salad or her infamous corn bread.  Jackie was also a Diva fashionista, when she dressed.... she dressed to kill.  

Mary departed this life on October 20, 2018 at the age of 82 at St. Joseph’s Hospital but her legacy of many memories will forever be with her sons, James (Lisa) Turner and Fate (Jenelle) Stewart; her Shih Tzu canine companion, Tina Turner; 22 grandchildren, 58 great-grandchildren and 10 great-great-grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends.

Mary was preceded in death by her grandchildren, Terron D. Turner, LaFate Stewart, DaShawn Martin; her parents, Duckett and Mattie Turner; her brothers, Michael McDonald and Willie Frank Turner.

She will be laid to rest in Concordia Gardens

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