Mary Bouknight Booker, 95, of the Lowman Home, died Thursday, September 15, 2005. She was married to Harold C. “Snooks” Booker Jr. who died in 1987. Friends and relatives never had a conversation with Mrs. Booker without her mentioning “Snooks” with total love and devotion. The two never missed having lunch together at the exact same time each day. For 50 weeks each year, they worked hard, but for two weeks they lived like a king and queen by doing such things as traveling to New York on the train and staying at the Waldorf Astoria.

Mrs. Booker was born January 17, 1910, in Columbia, South Carolina, and was a daughter of the late Arminta Voltaire Stuckey Bouknight and William Joseph Bouknight. Mrs. Booker began working at The State newspaper in 1928. After only two years, she was promoted to society editor and served in this position until her retirement in 1963. In that same year, she and her husband organized The Star Reporter Corporation, and along with Miller Montgomery as sales manager, began publishing The Star Reporter newspaper. Mrs. Booker was secretary and assistant treasurer for the corporation. She served as the society editor for The Star Reporter until her retirement in 1990. In 1992, Mrs. Booker sold her shares of The Star Reporter Corporation to W. Miller Montgomery Sr., Warner M. Montgomery Jr. and Mimi M. Maddock; however, she continued to be a consultant until her death. The name of The Star Reporter was changed to The Columbia Star in 1998; however, the high standards Mrs. Booker insisted upon for the society page are still the basis for the quality of weddings, engagements, and obituaries The Columbia Star publishes.

Mrs. Booker will be remembered for being a pioneer for all weekly newspapers in South Carolina. Those who continue her legacy are grateful for her courage to begin a successful publication for readers of the Midlands. The staff at The Columbia Star hopes to continue to publish a newspaper of which she would always be proud.

Mrs. Booker was a member of the Brogdon Sunday School Class and a lifelong member of First Baptist Church in Columbia.

Mrs. Booker is survived by her niece, Dolores Ballentine Hopkins and her husband, Bill Hopkins, of West Columbia; stepnieces, Mary Thomas and Ethel Addy; stepnephew, Billy Cunningham and his wife; a number of great nieces and great nephews; great great nephews and great great nieces; and great great great nephews. She was preceded in death by five sisters.

Graveside service was held Sunday at 2:30 pm in Elmwood Cemetery and Gardens, Columbia. Chaplain Gary Lyerly of the Lowman Home officiated. The family received friends after the service at the graveside.

Memorials may be made to Lutheran Hospice, 1505 Blanding Street., Columbia, SC 29201.

The family wishes to express their deep appreciation to the staffs of the Lowman Home and Lutheran Hospice for their care and love that was extended to Mrs. Booker during her time at the Lowman Home.