Edna Mattie Marie Louise Howse was born December 27, 1923 in the Southland Community of Lexa, Arkansas. She departed this life November 21, 2018 in Dallas, Georgia.

Marie graduated from High School at Eliza Miller in West Helena, Arkansas. She then moved to Harlem, New York and later Bronx, New York where she lived and worked for 70 years. She earned a certificate from the former Sachs Quality Department for Interior Design and a certificate from UAW District 65 for Fashion Design and Sewing. Marie also attended the Braithwaited Business School. Marie worked for Lerner Stores for 30 years as a Stockroom Worker.

Marie joined Union Baptist Church, Harlem, New York, at an early age. She was dedicated to her church where she held many positions for 70 years. She was President of the Hattie Hutchins Ministry, Chairman of the current pastor's 24 ^th Anniversary Program and devoted to fundraising programs for the youth of the church.

Marie has been a pillar in the Bronx Fordham Tower Community for 50 plus years. In 1975 she started the Fordham Towers Youth

Association. She would cook dinners, cakes and pies (her favorite hobby was cooking) and sell them so she could carry the young people, in her building, to places like: Disney, Orlando, FL; Six Flags, Atlanta, GA & Richmond, VA; Hershey Park, Pennsylvania, PA; Great Adventures, Jackson, NJ, Washington, D.C. and Ocean City, MD to name a few. Her goal was to not only provide an enjoyable vacation for the youth, but she also worked with the seniors at the Mount Caramel Senior Center in Bronx, New York. She would often host dinners there and visit with them to keep their spirits high. She often volunteered at the Board of Elections on Community Board 6.

Marie was awarded the Sojourner Truth Award from the Bronx Chapter of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women's Club. She was voted 25 Most Influential Women of Bronx in 2012.

Marie is the 6 ^th child of Fred and Pearlee Howse who proceeded her in death. Her brothers Colliu Howse, Willie Howse Sr., Hiawatha Howse and Robert Preston Howse, her sisters Freddie Mae Howse-Townsend and Anna Almeta Howse Mays.

Marie was never married and had no children but was a mother to all. She leaves to mourn a host of nieces and nephews, cousins, her children of Fordham Towers and many friends.