Ora Lee Mudd Mason, 90, of Lorton, died Sunday, Aug. 16, 2015 at her home.
Mrs. Mason was born to Horace and Belle Mudd on June 21, 1925 in Alexandria. She grew up as the youngest of eight brothers and sisters on North Saint Asaph Street and lived in the city until 2002. She was predeceased by her husband of 60 years Harry W. Mason in 2002.
A career employee of the Alexandria City Public Schools, she worked in the cafeteria at both Mount Vernon School and George Washington High/Middle School retiring in 1990 as the last in-house baker in the Alexandria school system.
She was a dedicated member of the First Assembly of God Church from its origins on South Patrick Street in the 1930s and was later a pillar of the congregation which moved to Braddock Heights in 1965. Ora Lee, known by the congregation as "Mama Mason," served the church and the community as a caterer for over five decades at scores of socials, weddings, and special events often serving hundreds of people at a time. Her catering was extended to other Alexandria groups including the Railroad Evangelists, Alexandria-Washington DeMolay, G. W. sports banquets and the former Methodist Protestant Church. Never was there a charge for her labors as she considered it as her calling in the service of the Lord.
Ora Lee and Harry's kitchen ministry was at its height during their summer-long "vacation" every year as the cooks for the Assembly of God's Potomac Park Camp in Falling Waters, W.Va. For over 30 years, thousands of campers, staff and visitors feasted on their food preparations. For several years in the 1970s they served as cooks during mission trips to the Lumbee Indian reservation in North Carolina.
Ora Lee was devoted to her family and friends. She is survived by her daughter Noreen L. Perry of Lorton and had three grandsons, a number of great grandchildren and many adoring nephews and nieces.