Mattie P. (Brown) Borom

Mattie Pearl Brown Borom was born on January 24th, 1924 in Macon County, Alabama to the late Renfro and Sarah Jane Brown. Mattie was the fifth of eight children brought forth from this union. Mattie attended Brownville Number One School for her primary and secondary education. After graduation from school Mattie joined her eldest sister Mary and her husband Fred in Chicago, Illinois. Prior to leaving for Chicago, Mattie met the man who would one day become her husband. Eddie Borom left to serve in the war overseas while Mattie was active in the war effort stateside working in a bomb factory. After the war ended and Eddie returned home, the couple moved to Cleveland, Ohio where they married February 21st, 1946. After buying a home on Adams Avenue, a year later the couple welcomed their first child, Jasper Robert Borom on February 10th, 1947. They were blessed with a second son, Sanford Ray Borom on December 27th, 1952.

Mattie was a stay-at-home mother and homemaker raising her children. After her children were of a mature age, Mattie began her career at Woolworth’s where she served as the manager of the home decor department. It was here that her gift for floral arrangement and decoration was developed and highlighted. She was an invaluable asset to the store and was best known for her customer service. Her reputation preceded her and it was often that customers would come to the store and ask to return on days that she worked if she was not there to assist them. She was that important to people and left that great of an impression.

Outside of work Mattie's passions included gardening and baking. She was known for having a beautiful garden and her delicious desserts including lipstick pound cake, egg pie, ginger bread and her infamous sweet potato pies, to name a few. Although she was famous for her desserts, Mattie took a great interest in health and led an active lifestyle exercising daily and adjusting her diet to meet her and her family’s health needs.

Above all, Mattie was a caretaker. She cared for her husband, parents and siblings when their health failed and remained by their side until their transition. She was gentle, caring, compassionate and loved her family fiercely. After raising her own children she played a vital role in raising her four grandchildren.

She was a woman of faith who loved the Lord and was a dedicated and active member at Olivet Institutional Baptist Church where she served on the Sunday School Board and Elizabeth Circle. Mattie was always willing to lend a helping hand and comforted others in their time of need. Her beautiful spirit would fill the room when she entered and she no doubt left a void in our hearts with her passing.

Mattie is survived by her brother Johnny Robert Brown and is preceded in death by her beloved husband Eddie Borom, her parents Renfro and Sarah Jane Brown, siblings Mary Willis (Fred), Issac Brown (Essie), Annie Flood (Virgil), Annie Laura Harvey (David), Willie Brown, and Sarah Jane McMillan (Isaac).

She leaves her legacy of love which spans four generations:

Children: Jasper Robert Borom (Emma) and Sanford Ray Borom (Cheryl). Grandchildren: Damon Borom (Lashon), Dannielle Rodgers (Andre), Meredith Santiago (Juan), Alison McGuire (Christopher). Great Grandchildren: Jasmine James (Benton), Andre Rodgers, Jaelie Santiago, and Vera Louise Santiago. Great Great Grandchildren: Logan James and London James.

She leaves to mourn a host of nieces, nephews, friends and family.

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