Monroe Dispatch - No Struggle, No Progress

NOTABLE PHILANTHROPIST IN RICHLAND PARISH DIES AT 94

Mrs. Mary Ellen Bateast Plain, affectionately known as "Momma Plain", was born March 28, 1927, to the late Mr. and Mrs. William Bateast in Woodville, Mississippi. Momma Plain joined church and was baptized at the age of eight in Woodville, MS. After moving to Rayville, LA, in 1950, she joined the Macedonia Baptist Church family where she served faithfully until her death. Over the years, she served in many capacities: member emeritus of the Deaconess Ministry, retired Sunday School teacher (junior and adult women's class), teacher for the adult class in the Baptist Training Union, member of the Citywide Missions, Vice President of the Missions Ministry, and many more. She spent several summers conducting Vacation Bible School workshops and was instrumental in providing Bibles and hymnals for Macedonia. She was united in holy matrimony on December 23, 1946, to the late David Plain Sr. This union was blessed with two handsome sons, Wendell and the late David Jr. Mary loved her family deeply and enjoyed being a wife, mother, grandmother, and adopted mother to many. Momma Plain was faithful in her pursuit to draw everyone closer to Jesus Christ. She left behind a beautiful legacy and reared her family and friends in the fear of the Lord. Mary Plain graduated from Natchez College High School in 1946. In 1966, she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education from Southern University in Baton Rouge, LA. She continued her educational journey and received her Master of Education plus 30 hours (1969) and certification as a Reading Specialist from Northeast Louisiana University (now University of Louisiana, Monroe). She later went on to receive a Nursing Assistant certification in April 1993 at Hi-Tech Training Institute. She also earned several educational leadership certifications ranging from Supervisor of Instruction to Parish and City School Superintendent. Mary Plain retired from the Richland Parish School Board System in 1990 where she served as a school teacher and administrator from 1965 – 1990. She also served as the First Chairman for the Richland Parish Professional Improvement Program for over ten years. In 1986, Mary and David Plain Sr. founded the Christian Enrichment and Learning Center, where Mary served as director and one of the teachers for the after-school program. Mary and her late husband David went on to organize the Rayville Reach Program which was the continuation of the Christian Learning Center in June 1987 to meet the spiritual and academic needs of the community's youth. On June 18, 2021, the Lord saw fit to call her home to claim her mansion in the sky. She was preceded in death by her parents William and Amanda Bateast, her husband, David Plain Sr., one son, David Plain Jr., and one grandson Trey Dell Angry. She leaves to cherish her memories: one son - Minister Wendell Plain (Rhoda) of Tuscumbia, AL; one granddaughter - Amanda Plain of Birmingham, AL; one brother - Aaron Turner, Cleveland, OH; one aunt - Dorothy Singleton, Baton Rouge, LA; three godchildren - Lorenzo (Kathy) Brown of Rayville, LA, Crystal Lynn (Oscar) Gordon of Baton Rouge, LA, and Christopher Dale (Beanka) Williams of Baton Rouge, LA; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and many, many friends. Mrs. Mary B. Plain's funeral services were Saturday, June 26, 2021 at Macedonia Baptist Church in Rayville, LA.