Mother Marian "Mary" Witt

Marian Witt was born on September 27, 1951, to the proud parents of Oscar and Lindora Witt at Kaiser Hospital in Oakland, CA. She was raised and lived in Richmond, CA all of her life and had two children. On December 20, 1988, her father Oscar Witt passed away and in July 2002, her mother Lindora Witt passed away.

Affectionately referred to as “Mary”, she attended Elementary and Junior High schools in the Richmond Unified School District, graduated from John F. Kennedy High School, then graduated and received her A. A. degree in the Performing Arts from Contra Costa College.

Mary’s first church was Center Street Baptist Church in Oakland, CA. Later, she became a member of New Bethel C.O.G.I.C. (Apostolic) in Richmond, CA where she was baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of her sins and received the gift of the Holy Ghost under the leadership of Bishop A. D. Bradley.

She participated in multiple Bay Area plays, sang with various choirs and groups, such as Helen Stevens & the Voices of Christ, Daryl Coley & New Generation, New Bethel Inspirational Choir, and her current Covenant Church Choir, just to name a few. Her oldest sister, Evelyn Thomas, even had her own group in which Mary was one of her background singers. As a bus operator, she was consistent and strict while employed by Patchetts Bus Company and her last employer, AC Transit. She didn’t play while driving the bus; she meant what she said and said what she meant. If the passengers and students didn’t obey the safety rules, there was no problem for Mary to pull the bus over, stand up, and demand the riders to follow the safety rules OR else!!

Mary loved her family!!! She looked forward to and cherished the family get-togethers, such as spending the 4th of July holiday events at her cousin Louise Stanley’s home with her children, Louise’s children and others on Chestnut Street in West Oakland; the sisters’ trips, and the many Sunday dinners and outings with her sister Louise Green and extended sisters, Rose Spears and Dessie Miller.

Mary was a member of Keys to Life Ministries in El Cerrito, CA, under the leadership of Pastor Valerie Rideaux, during its inception. She had a special love for the pastor of New Life Worship Center, Bishop Bob Robinson, and the New Life Worship Center Mothers’ Board (Mother Carolyn Daniels, Mother Evelyn Frazier, and Mother Francis Webb). If truth be told, Mary was a member of two churches, New Life Worship Center in Richmond, CA (on Saturdays) where in December of 2016 she was ordained a “Church Mother” in the company of her sisters and dear friends by Bishop Bob Robinson and Covenant Church of Berkeley, CA (on Wednesday nights and Sundays.) She loved her Covenant Church and pastor, Bishop Kelly R. Woods. Her favorite ministries at Covenant Church was the Security Ministry along with the Ministry Leader, the Covenant Choir and Director (her niece) Kim Green, as well as the Culinary Team.

Mary had a wonderful spirit. She loved to skate when she was younger and was a huge fan of the San Francisco Bay Bombers Roller Derby Team during the ‘60’s and the ‘70’s. She was also a fan of most Bay Area sports teams such as, the Oakland A’s, Raiders, and the Warrior’s. Mary also loved studying the word of God, as well as, sharing the gospel message through song.

Mary’s mother, Lindora Witt, father, Oscar Witt, two brothers Earnest Witt and Curtis Witt, and one sister Cleotha Witt all preceded her in death. She leaves to cherish her memory, one son: Oswar “Ozzie” William Windham, Jr.; one daughter: Kennetta Wright; three grand-children: Brandon Windham, Sequoia Windham, Demarius Scarbrough; two sisters: Evelyn Thomas, and Louise Green; six nieces: Lalita Witt, Renee Thomas, Yvette Lozada, Kim Green, Felicia Green, and Lei Anne Johnson; five nephews: William Thomas, Barry Thomas, Darryl Thomas, Anthony Green, Curtis Witt, Jr. and a host of great nieces, great nephews, cousins, church families, and friends.