My Mothers Obituary: Rayella Booton-Brown
Hello, and allow us to introduce you to a fabulous woman named Rayella Booton. Rayella was born at home on February 21st, 1933, in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Her parent's names were Ray Andre Booton and Coella Delley Booton, thus Mr. and Mrs. Booton. Unfortunately, her father Ray, a very successful businessman, died when she turned 6 months old. Her mother later remarried a man named Dr. Cosby E. Ford.

Lil Rayella's early school days actually began in Dallas,Texas, where she lived with Uncle Buddy Delley and Aunt Pearl. They lovingly helped to raise her thru the 5th grade with her other cousins in Texas. Although she was the only girl, she had 4 cousins who were sisters that became like her sisters: Marcelet, Nadine, Lorraine (Logi) & Ernestine. She did however move back to Muskogee with her mother and Dr. Ford and of course, continued in school. She had one other sibling, a little brother named Cosby Ford who was 11 years younger. She used to take him everywhere with her coming up.

Young Rayella was a very smart student, & highly intelligent. In a word, she was brilliant. God gave her that gift. She loved music and was trained on the piano throughout her school years. The late legendary music instructor, Ms. Avalon Reece, nurtured her talents and spirit of excellence. Rayella also enjoyed being a high stepping majorette during high school at Muskogee Manual Training High School, where she graduated from in 1951.

After graduating high school, Rayella attended Tuskegee Institute, which later became Tuskegee University. Many thought she would major in music, given her many years of piano study, but nursing was her calling and chosen profession. She loved nursing. She worked hard and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing. Then she pursued higher education by attending Boston University and earned her Master's Degree in Nursing. At heart, Rayella was a born educator, a people's person and a servant leader. Being extremely sociable came natural for her. She loved people.

During her college days at Tuskegee, Rayella married the love of her life, a young man from Tampa, Florida named William L. Brown. The two exchanged marriage vows in 1952, while she was still in school. He embarked upon a career in the Air Force as an officer. Thus, she became an officer's wife.

Along the way, the marriage was blessed with 4 children. Her oldest child and only girl was named Tanya, who later legally changed her name to Marjani Dele. Three sons followed: Derek, her oldest son, then Brandi, and William, her youngest. Rayella loved all of her children.

While living in Syracuse, she taught nursing at Syracuse University. This is probably where the title of Professor started to become a reality in her life. One of her fondest memories from Syracuse was a week-long family fishing trip to a place called A Thousand Islands, located by the Canadian border. They stayed in cabins, went out on motorboats 4 days and caught 164 fish. She loved it. Her next stop was in Taipei, Taiwan where she taught science at the local Taipei American School. As a schoolteacher, she was creative, fun and challenging. Her students loved her. When Martin Luther King was assassinated in 1968, she was the one who made the school literally stop classes, have an outdoor assembly, acknowledge his life and death, fly the flag half mass, and she spoke and sang on his behalf. Raella Booton-Brown, was most definitely a leader, very dramatic, and known as the "Queen Bee."

Throughout her lifetime, Rayella, was a community activist and involved in civil rights activities. God had blessed this Woman of God with a true heart for the people and one against injustice. She was cut from the same cloth as other freedom fighters. As a young woman in her hometown of Muskogee, she was known to lead lunch counter sit-ins. Later in life, she stood up for the ill treatment of elderly patients in Nursing Homes and fought for those who couldn't defend themselves. Along with her attorney Jim Goodwin, they fought and won a long, hard legal battle against a major Nursing Home Association in Tulsa, OK. While living in Colorado Springs, Professor Booton took a stand against racism on the college level. She filed and won a major racism lawsuit against a Community College where she was previously the Dean at.

So much could be said, so let us try and capture the essence. The Creator had given her a brilliant mind and she developed it. She projected beauty, excellence, intelligence, majesty, and love wherever she went. The very Spirit of truth was at work within her. She didn't view nursing as a job to get paid but it was a part of her calling in life. When she took that medical oath back at Tuskegee, that was like a Holy contract for her. She meant it from her heart. Rayella Booton-Brown served in the capacity of a nurse, nurse educator, professor, Dean of a Nursing College at Pikes Peak Community College, a mentor, motivator to many, a Minister,,, Let's pause to mention a few of the close relationships cultivated in her life over the years, Willie Granger; her adopted baby brother, Mae Francis; her cousin in prayer, Frank Delley; her big brother cousin and fellow visionary, Rev. Frankie Mae Easter; her closest Episcopalian partner in ministry, Dr. Virgina Schoats; another sister & best friend, Mrs. Alejandra Lopez: her God sent caretaker angel and closest friend at the end.

Over the years, Rayella was very active serving in the church. As she got older, she diligently studied and researched the scriptures, learning God's Word and the power of God. Most importantly, she developed an intimate relationship with her Lord Jesus Christ. She was a woman of prayer. Being led by the Holy Spirit, she legally began her own 501c3 ministry called Casa Agape Ministries in Tulsa, OK in 2001. It literally means The House of God's kind of Love. It was consecrated by the clergy from the Episcopal Church. She reached out to many people and touched lives wherever she went. Along the way, Rayella adopted a number of spiritual sons and daughters and was affectionately known to some as Mimi.

In 2017 her health took a downfall when she suffered the1st of several strokes. It may have robbed her of her speech and ultimately her movement, but not her strong spirit. Rayella moved in with her youngest son William and his wife Susan in Marlboro, New York. This is where she lived out the last of her years. She wasn't going to a nursing home. Rayella Booton-Brown, Professor Rayella, Professor Booton, Mrs. Brown, Mimi, all one and the same Woman of God, was born in her home and passed away in her home, in her own bed, with her oldest son holding her right hand. Two of her other children and daughter in law were close by.  For 91 years, Rayella lived a full, fruitful life of purpose and now has gone on to be with her Lord. She loved God, her family, and helping others. A Mother, a visionary, educator, historian, civil rights activist, community leader, A True Queen. She was a Child of the Living God. She leaves behind 4 children and 3 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild.  This is a brief introduction to our Mother, Rayella Booton-Brown.

A Home Going Celebration is scheduled, Saturday, May 18, 2024, 11:00 a.m., Grace Episcopal Church, 218 N. 6th Street, Muskogee, OK. Interment will follow in Booker T. Washington Cemetery, Muskogee, OK. Visitation will be Friday, 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. Omega Omega Service scheduled at 6:00 p.m. in "Precious Memories Chapel."

Funeral will be livestreamed via Facebook: Spiritual Sister

The family has been cared for by House of Winn-Muskogee