Mother Letha Mae Curry Obituary (1928 - 2023)

"...to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord" - 2 Corinthians 5:8. At ninety-four years of age, on Monday, January 16, 2023, Letha Mae Curry completed her earthly journey. She transitioned peacefully, from this life to the next, at home in Topeka, Kansas, surrounded by loved ones. Letha Mae (Boykins) Curry was born in Gould, Arkansas, on August 30, 1928, to the late Mr. Reddick Boykins Sr. and Frankie Caldwell-Boykins. Letha spent her early years in Arkansas, sharecropping and farming with her family. Like her siblings, she attended public school and received her education from the Pine Bluff Public School System. Although the family started off sharecropping, they would eventually come to buy land of their own. This land, in Tamo, AR, would later become familiar to, as well as frequented by generations to come. After entering adulthood, Letha met and married Allen (Billy) Curry. Once Letha started her own family, she was affectionately given the moniker "Madea". Shortly after marrying Allen, the family relocated to Topeka, KS. Letha expressed her belief in Christ at an early age, and after she got to Kansas, she became a member of New Jerusalem M.B.C.. Away from the southern way of life, Letha dedicated her time to being a stay-at-home wife and mother. However, her love for farming was so great that she planted and tended to a vegetable garden every single year until she was no long able to do so. Whoever said, "You can take the girl out the country, but you can't take the country out the girl" had to have known Madea. After experiencing a decline in health, Letha, moved in with her oldest daughter and son-in-law, Olivia and Jessie Sr.. This made it easier for her to be loved and cared for by all of her family. While living with Olivia, Letha attended church regularly at Emmanuel Temple C.O.G.I.C.. When Letha's health would no longer allow her to go places, Olivia assumed the role of primary caretaker until Letha took her last breath. "Madea", "Mom", "Grandma", "Sus-tah", "Aunt Letha Mae", "Miss Curry" will be missed tremendously. She was truly loved beyond measure. Letha was preceded in death by her parents, Reddick Sr. and Frankie Boykins; husband, Allen Curry; children, Lucious Breamsy, Albert Winston Sr. and Larry Curry; grandchildren, Jimmie Ailsworth, Ronald Lett Jr., Anita Huggins and Gregory Avery; great-grandchildren Antoine Hampton and Jordin Hailey; great-great grandchild, Amor'Rionna Whetstone; brothers, Reddick Borkins Jr., Alvin Borkins, Jessie Borkins and James Barkins Sr.; sisters, Ira Jean Boykins, Beatrice Pridgeon, and Ada Allen. Memories of Letha will forever remain in the hearts of her children, Olivia (Jessie, Sr.) Ailsworth, Frankie Huggins, Eddie Williams (all of Topeka, KS), James (Leslie) Breamsy (Pine Bluff, AR), Doris Johnson (Chesapeake, VA), Barbara (Floren) Terry (Topeka, KS), Jeanetta (John, III) Jones (Virginia Beach, VA), Roger (Yolanda) Boykins Sr. and Johnnie Curry (both of Topeka, KS); four sisters, Mollie Hunt (Pine Bluff, AR), Lucille Jones (Queens Village, NY), Bobbie Boykins and Millie Sims (both of Topeka, KS); Grandchildren; Jessie Jr., Darlean (Hezekiah), Jo Ann, Joyce, Gloria, Mark, Erwin, Quentin, Taylor, Eddie Jr., James, Martin,Christopher, Jackie, James Jr., Jamesha, Keyvis, Albert Jr., Romel, Kizzy, Tyisha, Teila, Travis (Derecka), Jamar (Sherrill), Toshiba, David, LaQuisha (Alfonzo, Jr.), D'Ante (Elizabeth), Ra'Janae, Roger Jr., Chantin, Monzay'e, Kaleya, Larrica, Leida, Dasanee and Simoni; 83 great-grandchildren, 51 great-great-grandchildren, 1 great-great-great-grandchild and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.