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Julia Mae “Cookie” Bates Branch, 84 of Friendswood TX, who was born and raised in Port Arthur TX earned her Wings Saturday, April 11, 2020 after a short illness.

Cookie was born January 29, 1936 to Ruby Como Jones and Mark Bates Jr.

She professed her belief in Christ at an early age, Cookie was a member of New Beginning Church, League City, TX and a 1956 Graduate of Abraham Lincoln High School.

She was preceded in death by her mother Ruby, father Mark, two sisters, Ethel Brooks and Vera Gordon, one brother Louis Esbry Jr. and her great-grandson Terry “TJ” Bryant.

Cookie leaves to cherish her precious legacy and humorous memories: one daughter Darlene Marie Smith (Joseph) of Friendswood, TX, two sons Dale C. Branch Jr. (Doris) of Missouri City, TX and Mark Louis Branch of Port Arthur, TX, 6 grandsons, 6 granddaughters, 12 great-grandsons, 16 great-granddaughters, 1 great great-granddaughter and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

A Memorial Homegoing is pending at New Beginning Church under the direction of Mainland Funeral Home.