Ms. Mary Kate Devoe Blecher died Nov. 6. The daughter of Ms. Hattie Kate Rooks and the late Mr. Morris Devoe and stepdaughter of the late Mr. Bert Rooks Sr., she was born in 1942 in Newton County. She graduated from R.L. Cousins High School and joined Bethlehem Baptist Church at an early age under the pastorship of the Rev. Huff. Ms. Belcher was the secretary of the Nurses' Guild for a number of years. She was preceded in death by aunt Ms. Liza Freeman.

Surviving are mother Mrs. Hattie Kate Rooks of Oxford; sisters Mr. and Mrs. Junior Lee (Sarah Ann) Clark of Oxford, Ms. Sharon Swiney, Mr. and Mrs. Michael (Shebrena) Head, Ms. Carla Rooks (Juan), Ms. Pamela Rooks (Eric); brother Mr. Bert Rooks Jr. (Deidre), all of Covington; nieces Ms. Veronica Clark of Covington, Mr. and Mrs. Marshall (Tiffanie) Davis of Oxford, Ms. Chelsea Rooks, Ms. Carjuan Lee, Ms. Kwanzaa Lee, Ms. Shanricka Rooks, Ms. Bashunica Rooks, Ms. Jaila Andrews, all of Covington; nephews Mr. Ferricko Rooks, Mr. Jimquez Swiney, Mr. Jarian C. Rooks, Mr. Kendall Hunter, Mr. Brelin Rooks, Mr. Lavarius Sims, all of Covington, Mr. Robert Rooks of Conyers; great-nephews Mr. Kapelan Clark, Mr. Jiquez Swiney, both of Covington; aunts Ms. Martha Vaughn, Mr. and Mrs. Charles (Mary Louise) Peters, Ms. Ophelia White; uncle Mr. Willie Jennings Jr,; godsister Ms. Jeri Head of Covington; godchildren Keon, Kevin and Marisha Hardeman, all of Covington; a host of other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Nov. 10 at Bethlehem Baptist Church with the Rev. H.K. Benton Jr. officiating. Interment followed at Westside Cemetery.