Mary Stamps

On February 3, 1926, God blessed the home of Will and Judie Pruitt-Salter, who resided in Good Hope, Hickory, Mississippi with their fourth child who they named Mary Ella.  She was often referred to as “Mayella”.  She accepted Christ as her Savior at an early age and united with the Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church.  After joining, the Pastor Rev. Moore baptized her in Walker Pond.  She attended the Good Hope Elementary School from 1st through 8th grade built by family members and the Mt. Mariah Community (a 2-room school).

Living on the family farm in Good Hope required hard work for everyone.  One of Mary’s chores was plowing in their fields, which she executed as well as any young man. The high school, for Colored people living in several counties was in Jasper County, Mississippi.  Consequently, after she matriculated to high school, she would reside with her maternal grandfather, Simon Pruitt and her step grandmother, Sofronia Bullock-Pruitt until she graduated high school.  Simon’s first wife, Judie Jones-Pruitt died after the birth of Mary’s mother, Judie.  Mary graduated from Jasper County Agricultural High School under Principal John Palmer.  She then attended Jackson Teachers College in Jackson (later re-named Jackson State University), Mississippi.  After graduation, she taught school at the Good Hope School and advanced to the position of Principal.

In 1947, Mary and her sister, Ruthie took a train trip from Mississippi to Denver, Colorado to see their sister, Classie Rosetta Salter-Chapman and her husband, Elbert Hezekiah Chapman’s first baby-a son, Willie Elbert (all deceased).  They both became Denver residents.  Mary would jokingly say, “I came to see the baby and I am still seeing him.”

Shortly after relocating to Denver, she united with the New Hope Baptist Church, under the Pastorate of Rev. Alvin C. Dones.  While residing with her sister and brother-in-law at 2541 Welton Street, Denver, Colorado, she continued her Education at Barnes School of Commerce in Downtown Denver-in conjunction with waiting tables at the Minute Spot Restaurant, located in the heart of Denver’s Five Points Business District. She later went on to receive her master’s degree in Accounting from Regis University, Denver.

There was a young United States Airman named Lee Russell Stamps, who was a regular customer at Chappie’s Café, owned by her sister, Classie.  The combination of his personality, his military status and the fact he was a fellow Mississippian, spurred Classie to introduce him to her sister Mary, and they were married on April 24, 1956.  To this union three children were born: Floyd Lee Stamps, Jerry Lamar Stamps and Rose Marie Stamps.

During her lifetime, Mary made many contributions to her church, family, and other organizations.  She was a former member of Electra Chapter #16, Order of Eastern Star, Prince Hall Affiliated.  Her contributions through church work at New Hope, dates back to cutting stencils to make church bulletins and extends to Women’s Day Chair, Sunday School Teacher, Superintendent of the Children’s Department, Majestic Praise Choir, Instructor for the Ollie M. Eldridge Circle #11- of the Viola M. Harris Missionary Society, Youth Counselor, and teacher at Vacation Bible School.    Mary also served as Secretary for the Western States Sunday School and Baptist Training Union Convention of the Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah region.

Mary’s occupation for 35 years was a Civil Service Clerk, working for the Air Force Finance and Accounting Center, located in a Federal Complex on 48th and York Street, later relocating to Lowry Air Force Base.  Mary retired to provide care for her aged mother.  After her mother transitioned to the Balcony, she returned to working for Teletech-a Converges, until her final retirement.

Mary was an amazing, encouraging, supporter of her children, grandchildren, and an auntie-mom to her nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews, until the day she transitioned to the Balcony.

Mary is preceded in death by her husband, Lee Russell Stamps, Sr.; her parents; siblings; two nephews, Willie Chapman and James Chapman; and one grandson Brandon Burbach.

Mary Ella Stamps departed this life on March 3, 2021 in Denver, Colorado.

She leaves to cherish her memory 2 sons, Floyd Lee Stamps (Jennifer) of Aurora, Colorado; Jerry Lamar Stamps of Denver, Colorado; 1 daughter, Rose Marie Stamps, of Aurora, Colorado; 1 grandson, Lamar Blackwell (Isabelle), of Arvada, Colorado; 2 granddaughters, Malayah Stamps, of Littleton, Colorado and Grace Stamps, of Fort Collins, Colorado; and a host of additional family and friends.