Callie Mason

Mrs. Callie Weaver Mason, of Tampa, passed away Friday, November 27, 2020.  Memorial Service will be conducted Saturday, December 19, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. at Ray Williams Memorial Chapel, 301 N. Howard Avenue with Reverend Dr. Brett Snowden, officiating. Interment will follow in Hillsboro Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Please follow the CDC Guidelines.  Masks are required. Fifteen minutes prior to service time, Please visit  www.raywilliamsfuneralhome.com for the opportunity to view service via Live Streaming.  

On February 15, 1938, in Spartanburg South Carolina, El Willie Sr. and Louise Weaver were blessed with the birth of their third child, who was a beautiful baby girl named Callie Baby Weaver. Callie was adored by her older sister Katie Bell and brother El Willie Jr., but she later got to experience being a big sister herself to three younger siblings. Herbert (Sonny), Gwen, and Robert-Lee Walker affectionately called their big sister “Baby Callie”. Herbert has fond memories of Callie leading the women’s high school basketball team when she played organized half-court for Carver High School. He also remembers that she was the HS Homecoming Queen in 1955, and then went on to participate in beauty pageants after her high school years. Herbert was always so proud of his sister.

After high school, Callie married and bore three children, Carmen Louise, Alonzo Wilson Jr. and Retha Elaine Sims. Some years later, Callie divorced and moved with her children to Columbus, Ohio to begin a new life. With determination and faith in God, Columbus was where she dug her roots deep. At home, Callie nurtured a foundation grounded in the Christian faith. She raised her three children to be very independent adults with a strong since of responsibility. In her pastime, Callie enjoyed baking and sewing, and she was quite elaborate with both.

It was the summer of 1978 when Callie met Larry Dwight Mason, and on April 12, 1980, the two committed to a lifetime together in the presence of God and the Second Baptist Church family of Columbus, Ohio. In June of that same year, the two lovebirds decided to trust God for a new beginning. Relying on their faith, they resigned from their jobs and moved to sunny Pensacola, FL where they would begin their new adventures together, which would include starting several businesses. One of their ventures was an ice cream stand called ‘Callie’s Cones’. Even though that venture did not last long, it was an enjoyable and delicious experience. Eventually, Callie and Larry settled in Tampa, FL and were both blessed to gain employment within the Hillsborough County school system, while continuing their entrepreneurial ventures. Callie served as a supervisor of Student Services until she retired. Callie was a stabilizing force for her husband Larry, and she would always remind him that God was the strength of their lives, and that together they could accomplish anything. They were both faithful members of Greater Bethel Missionary Baptist Church where Callie sang in the choir, on the praise team and made time to visit the sick.

Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer was not an easy road, but her devoted husband would often rehearse the words that his wife spoke on the day of her diagnosis, “We are going to be ok, God’s got us, I trust God.” It was Callie’s faith in God that Larry clung to, and soon his own faith grew stronger than ever. Although there were many challenges, Larry remained committed to caring for his wife at home until God moved her to her eternal home on November 27, 2020.

Baby Callie, Callie, Mom, Mama, Meema and Grandma were all the endearing names we called her. In the words of her only son, “Mom was a praying woman who was easy to talk to and always available! Gone in body but with us in spirit. Time to celebrate her home going to be with the Lord. No more pain and suffering!” She will be greatly missed by her devoted husband, two brothers, three children, two sons-in-law, one daughter-in-law, eleven grandchildren, twelve great grandchildren, extended family, church family and friends. We all loved her so very much and will cherish every memory of her.

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