Deacon Eli Mason, Jr.
03/26/1938 - 01/29/2021
What a blessed day – March 26, 1938 - when blossoming baby boy Eli, Jr. was born to Annie Lois and Rev. Eli Mason, Sr., in Bolton, Mississippi! He was the fifth of eleven children born to their union. At an early age, Eli confessed Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and was a member of Rose Hill M.B. Church for more than 65 years and served as a Deacon. He loved Scripture and hymns; one of his favorite verses was John 3:16. One of his favorite hymns was “Amazing Grace”. Eli received his education from the Sumner Hills School and graduated in 1958. For more than 50 years, he was the joint owner and operations manager at Smith’s Supermarket in Jackson, Mississippi. He met and married Eula Jackson. They raised two daughters (LaToya and Rosanna) and a son (Stevie). Stevie preceded him in death. Eli was also preceded in death by his parents; five brothers (Cephaus, Robert, Charlie, Eugene “Jake”, and Silas; two sisters (Daisy Elizabeth and Annie Louise Bernstine); two brothers-in-law (Rev. Levi Deplush, Sr. and Rev. Orenza Bernstine); and two sisters-in-law (Rosie Lean Mason and Minnie Lee Mason). Eli remained courageous and his relationship with God continued to flourish for all of his life. He was known for his gentle, pleasant demeanor. During the quiet, morning hours of Friday, January 29th, God saw that Eli’s earthly work was done and peacefully transitioned him to Glory. Those who remain to cherish Eli's memory are his loving and devoted wife, Eula; daughters, LaToya Mason-Bolden, MD (Arnel) of Madison, MS and Rosanna Mason of Jackson, MS; grandchildren- Ari-Elle Grace and Maxwell Bolden of Madison, MS; Tyler and Kirby Mason of Houston, TX; daughter-in-law, Charlean Mason of Houston,TX; sisters – Thelma Deplush of Hayward, CA, and Mary J. Wilson of Jackson, MS; a brother – W.L. Mason of Jackson, MS; and sisters-in-law – Willye Macklin and Eloise Hudson of Jackson, MS; Rosie Mason of Antioch, CA, and Marilyn Mason of Bolton, MS and brother-in-law – Roosevelt Jackson of Jackson, MS. Eli also leaves to treasure his life a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. Funeral services will be Thursday, February 4, 2021 at 3:00 p.m., Rose Hill M.B. Church Cemetery, 9542 Highway 22, Bolton, MS 39041.