Ocie Booker

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

PORTAGEVILLE -- Ocie Lee Booker, 67, died Nov. 10, 2006, at her home.

Born Sept. 13, 1939, at Catron, daughter of the late Love and Mae Fannie Ward Durden, she taught for the Portageville School System in the Head Start program for many years. She was a member of the New Salem Missionary Baptist Church where she served as an usher, Sunday school secretary and teacher. She was also president of Friendship District Ushers Department.

On March 20, 1961, in Portageville, she married C.J. Booker who preceded her in death on July 6, 1972.

Also preceding her in death were two brothers, Willie B. Durden and Booker T. Durden; and three sisters, Pearlie Durden, Dorothy Durden and Patsy Newsom.

Survivors include: one son, Sherman Booker of Columbia; one daughter and son-in-law, Belinda and Rusty Hodges of Portageville; three brothers, Johnnie Durden of Gary, Ind., Roosevelt Durden of Huntsville, Ala., and Lavell Durden of Kansas City, Kan.; three sisters, Lovie Sanders of Milwaukee, Lidia James of Portageville and Marilyn Durden of Chicago; and eight grandchildren.

Visitation is from 5-8 p.m. Friday at DeLisle Funeral Home in Portageville and from 10 a.m. until time of services at noon Saturday at the New Salem Missionary Baptist Church. The Rev. Ernest Winters will officiate.

Burial will follow in the Portageville Cemetery.