Florence E. Mason

OBITUARY

Florence Elizabeth Barlow Mason was born to the late Henry Barker and Addie Gertrude Scott on September 3, 1932. After a lengthy illness, God called her home to rest on Sunday, April 24, 2022.

Florence received her education in the Baltimore City school system. She spent all her life in Baltimore city. Florence accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and savior years ago. She loved going to church and listening to the singing.

On February 12, 1949, Florence married the love of her life, the late Frank Junius Mason Sr. From this union they had nine children.

At an early age, Florence was mentored by her step grandmother, Nanny, and her mother, Addie. During her younger years, Florence stayed home and raised her children. Through the years, Florence helped raise many nieces and nephews. She also took care of her mother-in-law when she became ill. Florence did hair and made clothes to supplement her income. After Florence had her last child Christa, she watched many of the children in the neighborhood. When Florence’s youngest child went to school, she got a job as a nurse aide. She worked 20 years as a nurse aide and was immensely proud of it.

In Florence’s free time, she loved going to casinos and would play for an exceedingly long time. She also loved drawing and coloring and even created her own coloring book which was printed through a publishing company. Florence planted and maintained a full garden that not only subsidized the food for her nine children, but the neighborhood as well. Florence’s main passion, besides raising nine children, was writing poetry. She wrote hundreds of poems and had many of her poems copyrighted. She even had some of her copyrighted poems posted on the walls of the Black Art Museum in Baltimore. Florence had many metaphors like: “if you can’t pay one you can’t pay two.”  She also had an uncanny way of expressing her thoughts, with a smile, a look, or just a shoulder shrug. Florence liked watching the soaps; especially The Young and Restless and the Bold and Beautiful. Florence loved Family Feud and would crotchet hats, scarves, and blankets while watching. It is funny that she could watch the same episode of Family Feud over and over and still get the answers wrong. Florence loved going to crab feasts and cabarets and would wear outfits with fringes and ruffles on them. Florence also loved sitting outside on her porch; she would sit there for hours on end.

Preceding Florence in death was her mother, Addie Scott, her loving husband, Frank Junius Mason, Sr., her twin brothers James and William Johnson, and her grandsons DaShawn Mason and Marvin Keith Mason, II.

Florence leaves to cherish her memories her nine children: Ralph Randolph Mason, Frank Junius Mason, Jr., Denise Vivian Mason Johnson, Valerie LaVern Mason, Kenneth Hugh Mason, Sr. (Daphne), Marvin Keith Mason (Dona’), Todd Irvin Mason, Sr. (Donna), Darryl Tracey Mason (Nurika), and Christa Sharon Mason, one brother-in-law, Vernon Mason, and one sister-in-law, Linda Mason. She is also survived by her 20 grandchildren – Natalie Sewell, Andrea Mason, Tyler Mason, Frank Junius Mason, III (Pete), Andre’ Mason, Tia La’Trice Hopkins Ghee, Trevor Andrew Johnson, Derrick Walter Clark, Kenneth Mason, Jr. (Kenny), Bradley Mason, Faith Mason, Jessica Gray, Sidney Mason, Sheldon Mason, Camryn Mason, Todd Mason, Jr., Brando Mason, Asia Williamson, 19 great-grandchildren, 5 great-great grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, family and friends.  Florence will forever be loved and missed by all.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Florence E. Mason, please visit our floral store.