Mae Leathers BrayMae Leathers Bray (Mrs. John C.), the "matriarch of Broadmoor United Methodist Church" was called home quickly, painlessly and unexpectedly, surrounded by her family, early on Sunday, January 8, 2017. Mae was born on September 28, 1920, the fourth of seven daughters, to Amy and Linzy O. Leathers in Dallas, Texas. She graduated from Highland Park High School which, as she said, "was built in the cotton fields off Lovers Lane". She was in the first class to graduate, having attended since its inception. After completing business school in Dallas, she moved to Bryan Texas, where she met the love of her life, John Bray, who was attending Texas Agricultural & Mechanical College. They married at the age of nineteen and from this union, four daughters were born.From Bryan, Texas, Mae and John moved to the Washington D.C. area where he, at the behest of J. Edgar Hoover, joined the FBI in 1941. Mae moved back home to Dallas with their daughters when John, upon being commissioned, left to go to the European Theater of WWII. After the war, Mae and John moved to Alexandria, Louisiana where their fourth daughter was born eleven years later. In 1956, they moved to Shreveport where Mae became active in numerous civic and social organizations. She was a sixty year active member of her church, where her generosity was apparent in many areas including the Carillion Bells, the curved staircase in the foyer of the sanctuary, as well as The Old Testament Faith stained glass window, which she and John donated in honor of their daughters. Mae's daughters honored her in 1996 with the creation of the Dutch Cradle Cross Ministry, given to each baptized baby under twelve months, which was apropos as Mae adored children. For more than fifty- two years she made her famous bunny cakes and shared them with friends both young and old. Mae also established a Presidential Endowed Scholarship at Texas A&M University in memory of her husband.She was member of The Cotillion Club, Shreveport Opera Guild, The Demoiselle Club, United Methodist Women's, The First Thursday Book Club, a fifty year member of The Woman's Department Club and a special initiate of Zeta Tau Alpha at Centenary College. Mae is predeceased by her parents, her husband of fifty-six years and her three older sisters. She is survived by her four daughters, Ginny Crowe (Tom), Mary Ann Breedlove, Margaret Bray and Valerie Murphy (Gil). "Monnie" is grandmother to William Crowe, John Crowe, Kevin Crowe, Maria C. Coplen, Michele C. Jolly, Tracy Prestwood, Melissa McWhorter, Rebecca M. Cook, Catherine M. Garrett, eighteen great grandchildren and was looking forward to the birth of her first great-great grandchild in June. She is also survived by her sisters, Ruth Larson, Anna Thayer and Mary Rauder, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. The family would like to give special thanks to Dr. Roan Flenniken, home health care nurse, Amy Martin and physical therapist, Lance Tucker for their many years of dedicated care, and to Rosie Taylor, Roosevelt Lee and Leonard Moran for their many years of faithful service. A memorial service celebrating Mae's beautiful life will be held at Broadmoor United Methodist Church, Wednesday, January 11, at 2 PM with a reception following at the church. Officiating will be Dr. Greg Davis, Senior Minister. Pallbearers will be Walker Agnew, Gordon Clingan, Marshall Jones, Randy Keene, Ron Lepow, Ron Mears, Leonard Moran and Lance Tucker. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Mae Bray Memorial Fund at Broadmoor United Methodist Church, 3715 Youree Drive, Shreveport, LA 71105 or to the .