Celebrating The Life & Legacy of Mary Alice McCaskle-Williams

The supreme will of our Lord and Savior was fulfilled in the lives of SE McCaskle and Annie Z

Brewer when they were blessed with a bouncing baby girl. Mary’s journey began on May 10,

1951 in Morgan City, Mississippi. Although she was the only child born to SE and Annie Z (both

preceded her in death), she was the second oldest of her siblings, three of whom have

preceded her in death (Eddie James Brewer, Thomas Chambers and Larry Haney).

Mary moved to Detroit, Michigan in 1952. She was educated in the Detroit Public School

System, attending Martin Luther King, Jr. Senior High School, formerly known as Eastern High

School. She graduated from Peace Corp as a draftswoman in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She

was a very smart, intelligent woman who was instrumental in creating the first computer

automated drafting system that is currently used by law enforcement today. Mary was not only

smart, but she was also beautiful. While in Oklahoma, she had various modeling jobs when she

was not busy building systems. She later worked for the Kmart Corporation, working her way up

to Department Manager. She continued her career at the Detroit Board of Education and later

opened her own daycare called Back-2-Basics.

Mary accepted Christ at an early age. She grew up at St. Paul AME Church and later joined the

New Jerusalem Baptist Church under the pastoral leadership of Rev. Alphonso West. She was

not only a soloist, but she was also the President of the New Jerusalem Youth and Young Adult

Choir. Mary was one of the original members of the Christian Stars, under the leadership of her

cousin, Jackie Maton. She was the main tenor singer for the group from 1972 to 1975.

Mary met and married Thomas Dailey in 1968. To that union, Kwan Meshell Dailey was born,

who preceded her in death in 1968. She was blessed with three additional children – Diallo

Sekou-Ousmane, Amir Nyenye-Kimmuju and Ayanna TyEast. Amir preceded her in death. Mary

was notorious for creating names for not only her children, but also other children in the family

i.e. Shawntuan Leanne DeBerry and NeKengg Zantinia Williams. She was united in holy

matrimony with Wyatt Williams in 1977.

Mary always had a passion for serving seniors and young people. She was a caregiver and

assisted with the daily needs of the elderly. She was a home healthcare provider and would

service the seniors by cooking, cleaning, grooming and providing companionship. She took

great pride in the work she did for the elderly. Mary also loved children. She worked with

children at various daycare centers including Slumberland and Wonderland Childcare Centers.

Her love for children led her to become a foster parent. She was responsible for caring for up to

10 children at one time. Although she couldn’t keep them all, she was blessed to permanently

add NeKengg to her family.

Mary loved to have fun. She enjoyed cooking, writing poems, drawing and dancing. She loved

spending time with her children and especially her grandchildren. It was her intent to have a

unified birthday celebration for all her grandchildren this year. She loved to play checkers and

jacks. She had a very inquisitive nature. In other words, she was very nosey. She had a great

sense of humor, always laughing with you and sometimes at you. In August 2021, she had the

chance to attend the Vaughn/Lott Family Reunion in Cartersville, Georgia. It was a joy to see

her singing and dancing at the reunion. Mary ultimately loved to worship. She would often sing

praises to God and give thanks for all his many blessings.

On Saturday, December 11, 2021, Mary gained her wings and joined her parents, daughter, son

and her brothers as they welcomed her at the pearly gates. God opened the gates of Heaven

with His arms stretched wide saying, “Well done thou good and faithful servant.” He

demonstrated his love for Mary by allowing her soul to be at peace.

Mary leaves to cherish her memories and celebrate her legacy: Her Son: Diallo McCaskle

(Tonya), Daughters: Ayanna Reynolds (Dwaine) and NeKengg Williams; Siblings: Kelvin

McCaskle, Sr., Maria Bell (Darryl), Antonio Allen, Sr. (Angela), and Shernell Stafford; Daughter-

in-love Domonique McCaskle; 14 Grandchildren and Three Great-Grandchildren; Extended

Children: Jamone Lewis and Siobhan Spencer; Godchildren: Tanya Maton and Shawny DeBerry;

Extended Sisters: Susie Gilliam and Marilyn Taylor; Sister/Cousin: Martha Jean Maton; and a

host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.