The Oklahoma Eagle Newswire
Live Homegoing Stream click here 1/16/2020 1 pm central time
First Base
On March 11, 1929 in Tulsa Oklahoma, a baby girl was born to Mattie Drew and Ernest Straham. They named her Freddie Mae (Straham) Strims. Her Mother passed away during the labor process and she was raised by her Great Grand Mother Ruth Drew, her Grandfather Nip Drew, and later her Aunt Katie Drew Stubbs “Cricket”. She was proud of her educational pathway starting at Dunbar, on to Carver, and graduating from the finest high school in the land the mighty Booker T. Washington Class of 1948. She was close to her classmates her entire life and if you ever attended one of their class reunions you learned what a funky good time meant and the joy of being black and proud to the world looked like.
Second Base
At a young age she exhibited a gift in athletics and pure grit for all her endeavors. A true trailblazer and representative for girl power and black girl magic. She found her first sports calling on the football field with the boys. She broke her collar bone and was given the directive to not play anymore by her family however she envisioned something different and continued on to play after her recovery. She found one of her life long callings on the baseball field as a pitcher and the female GOAT of her era was solidified. She was known for her fast pitch style of throwing the ball around her neck and between her legs at 90+ MPH which seemed like the speed of lighting to all who were blessed to witness her in action.
Some of the teams she played with were the Twisters, X-Ettes, Seniorettes, and traveling teams. Her most notable game she pitched and activated “beast mode” was against the Queen and Her Maids. She later went on to coach and mentor in baseball and helped contribute to the next greats in the sport and especially the girls . She was a lifelong ambassador for the sport and now that they are honoring the Negro Baseball League in the MLB we expect to get that phone call.
Third Base
Her lifelong calling for a life of service to others. She loved children and had a special gift with them. She began assisting with child rearing and setting her babies up for a lifetime of success through the foundations of excellence. She understood child development and with her you learned to watch, fight, and pray. She was a proud protector for the Liberty Addition neighborhood where she lived. She took the role of police/detective, EMSA, fitness coach, and care taker. She patrolled the neighborhood and kept watch day and night and was a one woman army staying ready with an arsenal of weaponry.
Home Run
Above all she was an angel on earth and loved and lived her best life. When you met her you saw the love and favor of God and faith in action, she was truly a Godly inspiration. She kept a smile on her face even when she faced trials and tribulations. She had the best sense of humor and was pleasantly entertaining. Her wisdom, counseling and encouragement was invaluable. She was an active and faithful member of Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church for 40+ years and served in the mission, usher, finance department, and choir thanks to strong leadership of Pastor Richard E. Walker. She loved music and dancing and she would turn it out. She loved her family and friends and was welcoming to all. She had a special life long inseparable bond with her daughter. For the last two years of her life, she took up residence with her daughter and son-in-law and they took care of her until she transitioned. She did not let them forget that she was still in charge.
Dug Out
Freddie Mae leaves in God’s care her devoted Daughter, Elaine “Lanie” (Maurice) Owens; her bonus Daughter, Taunia Green; Two grand children, Shiphaney (Fred) Jones, Dureyl “DJ” (Melessa) Owens; Eight Great Grandchildren, ShaBrea Walker, DeJuan Stanley, Darius “Trey” Owens, Brenton Murray II, Briley Murray, Dillon Owens, Dallis Owens, and Dayla Owens; Brother, Sherman (Quincy) Straham of Flint MI; Sister Bobbie (Amir) Houshiar of Saginaw MI; Raised Sister, Ruth Brown; Sister-In-Laws, Lenora Straham, Bessie Straham, and Mamie Straham all of Flint MI; Special Aunt, Lennie B. Straham; Special Cousins, Annie “Suda” Wilson, Emma Clemons (Swartz Creek, MI), Patricia Coleman & Siblings (Ft Smith, AR); God Daughter, Debra Hollingsworth; God Son, Wayne Robertson. God Grandchildren; Keeley Johnson, Michael Drew, Michelle Drew, Maya Drew, Kim Brown; Booker T. Washington Class of 1948; all family members/children she cared for and helped raise; Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church Family; neighbors; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
She joins at the pearly gates her Parents, Grandparents, Children Mareno Davis and Bridget Record, Siblings Milton Straham, Mary Ann Washington, Ernest Straham Jr., Willie Curtis Straham, Dr. Clarence C. Straham Sr. and Billie J. Straham.
Special Thanks and Appreciation
Wanda Thompson & Family, McPherson family, Knight Family, Dyer Family, Gay Family, Wiley Family, Record Family, Sheronda Ballard, Tamesha Stanley (Her Home Health Nurse), Thelma Walker, Mary Drew, Paul Drew Jr., Leon Drew, Gerald Drew, Rickey Drew “Crockett”, George Drew, Pastor Jamaal Dyer & Friendship Church Family, Terry Jackson & George Riley of Jack’s Funeral Home.
Follow this link for homegoing service time and family guest book: www.jacksmemorychapel.com
