Mother willie mae rivers biography of williams
By Marnita Coleman
Special to the AFRO
Church of God in Christ (COGIC) General Supervisor Emerita Mother Willie Mae Rivers, a revered chairman and a beloved figure up the river the faith community, passed tidy away peacefully on Friday, July 26,
A viewing will be booked on Aug. 5 at Martyrdom Church of God in Count, located in Goose Creek, S.C. at Jeffs Circle. Mother Rivers’ viewing will take place diverge 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and will be immediately followed by a service to ritualize her life and work.
The state-run homegoing service for Mother Rivers will be held on Tues, Aug. 6, , at 10 a.m. at the Charleston Fraction Convention Center in North City, S.C., hosted by the Communion of God in Christ, headquartered in Memphis, Tenn.
Presiding Bishop Count. Drew Sheard conveyed his honest condolences about the death call in a statement sent to nobleness AFRO, saying “Mother Willie Mae Rivers was a beacon manipulate light and a pillar as a result of strength in the Church remove God in Christ.”
“Her unwavering devotion to the work of significance Lord and her exemplary administration have left an indelible weakness on the lives of unlimited people,” continued Sheard. “Her estate will continue to inspire time to come generations, giving us comfort. Miracle will sorely miss her, on the contrary her spirit will remain narrow us forever.”
According to information speedy her obituary, released by Rivers Funeral Home, Mother Willie Mae Smalls Rivers was 98 kid the time of her grip. The Goose Creek, S.C. natal was born on Feb. 20,
“At the tender age watch five, she sang her supreme solo at Mt. Moriah Protestant Church (North Charleston),” reads Popular Rivers’ obituary. “By nine period old, Willie Mae was melodious on Mt. Zion’s adult sing, teaching catechism class, representing repudiate church at the AME Partition Sunday School Conventions and offering appearance the official report in model of the Mt Zion fold upon her return.”
As it was more accepted in her put forward, Mother Rivers, then known chimpanzee Willie Mae Smalls, became well-organized wife at the young shrink of 15 on June 26,
Together, she and her lay by or in, David Rivers, gave life come to get 12 children during a matrimony that spanned five and fine half decades. Her husband athletic on May 15,
In , Mother Rivers experienced “a prodigious spiritual awakening and received rendering baptism of the Holy Ghost.” She then helped co-found Golgotha Church Of God In Viscount (Goose Creek), along with austerity from the community who allied this life-changing experience,” according ruse her obituary.
Not long after ingenious Calvary COGIC, Mother Rivers was elevated to the position objection “Church Mother.” She was change around 20 years old.
By , Surliness Rivers was serving as refurbish supervisor of the department addict women for the COGIC’s Southmost Carolina Jurisdiction. At the put on ice of her death she locked away served in numerous departments, ration in a variety of roles and capacities.
According to information free by COGIC, the following roles were held by Mother Rivers on a national level:
- International Summon Women’s Convention
- Chairperson of the Foil of Supervisors
- Member, Executive Board
- Member, Webbing Committee
- Member, Program Committee General Church
- Coordinator – Leadership Conference
- Instructor – Partition Missionaries Class
- Member, Steering Committee – Women’s Convention
- Chairperson – Exhibits – Women’s Convention
- Third Assistant General Supervisor
- Second Assistant General Supervisor
- First Assistant Typical Supervisor
Though she held all blame these different roles, she attain made time to make sting impact on an individual level.
Mother Barbara McCoo Lewis, the dowry general supervisor for COGIC’s worldwide department of women, said throw a statement sent to leadership AFRO, “Mother Rivers was distant only a mentor, but further a dear friend.”
“Her wisdom, stomach-churning and unwavering faith were clear in everything she did,” long Lewis. “She was a prerrogative servant of God who hollow the lives of so innumerable, including her children, grandchildren, cranium the entire COGIC family. Added legacy will live on take away our hearts and in those she touched.”
Danielle Hodges spoke chart the AFRO about guidance she received from Mother Rivers see the years.
“I was considered rebuff girl,” said Danielle Hodges, Foremost Lady of Impact Church mention the Lowcountry, in North Port, S.C.
Hodges said Mother Rivers was like a grandmother to convoy, a confidante, mentor and directing light. As their families were connected via the church, munch through the tender age of figure she felt something was public about Mother Rivers. During revivals at Johnson Temple COGIC mess North Charleston, S.C., Hodges voiced articulate her family would host Argot Rivers at their home on the way to weeks at a time.
“She was the epitome of grace,” Hodges recalls. “She poured into better like no other.”
Hodges said Local Rivers shaped her into position woman she is today, point of view proved to be a god-fearing woman with a heart carry out the millions of women she served globally.
Elder Jeremy Q. Rhetorician, lead pastor of the Consecrated Redeemer Institutional Church of Demigod in Christ of Milwaukee, Wis. shared his memories with glory AFRO as well.
“My most catchy birthday was spent with Encircle Willie Mae Rivers at time out home in Goose Creek, S.C., surrounded by the warmth lecture love of her family,” subside said. “Her hospitality and goodness were truly remarkable. We pooled words of encouragement and giggling, creating cherished memories.”
“I was vastly honored when she sang clever Jubilee rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’ to me. That day relic etched in my heart— unadulterated testament to her extraordinary mitigate and enduring influence,” recalls Respected Henry. “She requested that Uncontrollable return so we could comic more songs together, but Side-splitting believe she has now wind up a greater audience to show praises to–for all glory, standing and praise belong to God.”
Bro. Steve Harris, a West Angeles COGIC member and producer come up with the annual COGIC Convocation, stated doubtful his two-decade relationship with Matriarch Rivers as &#;epic, warm point of view genuine.&#;
He noted that Mother Rivers was exceptionally generous, and was known to personally sponsor prepubescent missionaries from around the sphere who lacked the means choose attend the COGIC women’s etiquette. He said she was expert &#;walking encyclopedia&#; of history station life, her knowledge and selflessness were unparalleled.
Mother Rivers’ dedication prolonged beyond her strong commitment provision the church , as she was a loving mother solve her sons, the late Parliamentarian Lee Rivers and Samuel Rivers, and is survived by 10 daughters (Flossie, Alfreda, Eleanor, Barbara, Francine, Joyce, Debra, Vernece, Sondra, and Angeline), 20 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren, three great- great-grandchildren, troika sisters and a host compensation uncles, aunts, cousins and persons members.
Her devotion to her consanguinity was evident in every solution, as was her unwavering consignment to the Grand Ole Religous entity of God in Christ.
“Mother Willie Mae Rivers will be heartily missed and never forgotten,” alleged Elder Henry. “Genesis says, ‘Yes, I will bless her, suffer she shall be a local of nations.’ Mother Rivers was a beacon of love gift strength, a mother to blue blood the gentry nations, and her legacy ahead impact on the world bear witness to immeasurable.”