VIEWING: Friday, February 14, 2025/ Time: 12:30 PM - 5:00 PM

SINGING WAKE: Friday, February 14, 2025/ Time: 7:00 PM/ Greater New Life Apostolic Church of Jesus, 5740 Robinson Ferry Road, White Plains, VA 23893

SERVICE: Saturday, February 15, 2025/ Time: 12:00 PM/ The Colonial Center for the Performing Arts, 220 South Mecklenburg Avenue, South Hill, VA 23970/ Elder Roland James, Presiding/ Apostle Mildred Jenkins, Eulogist

INTERMENT: Oakwood Cemetery/ 3rd Street, South Hill, VA

APOSTLE MARY ELIZABETH HARPER BAGLEY, daughter of the late Samuel Henry and Betty Elizabeth Bishop Harper, was born January 29, 1939 in Lunenburg County, VA and graduated to glory on February 4, 2025. She was also preceded in death by her siblings- “Dem Harper Boys” -Lewis, Robert, Ernest, Samuel Henry II, Willie, Walter, Otis, Clyde, and Richard.

At an early age she was baptized and joined Cedar Creek Baptist Church, Kenbridge, VA. She attended the Lunenburg Public Schools.

She was married to the late Garland Theodore Bagley and to this union they were blessed with eight children.

Telling My Own Story...

Fifty-four years ago, I never imagined or even thought about preaching God’s word. I was a singer and a good one too! I was happy with just singing but little did I know, I was about to get a “Called by God” message. When I got the call, I didn’t readily receive it. Instead, I reneged and thought “Could this call have been for my brother?” I remember thinking - certainly not me. All I can tell you is when Jesus finished talking to me, I got in a hurry preaching his word and never looked back or even thought of going back.

I came into holiness under the leadership of the late Bishop Waverly G. Pitts in 1965 and worked faithfully as a missionary, a minister and then an Elder. Gaining knowledge and experience through working as an Elder, I would advance to Assistant Pastor of the Mt. Zion Apostolic Church of Jesus. After Bishop Pitts’ passing in 1976, I became the pastor of this great church.

As Pastor, my next level came under the leadership of the late Bishop Helen Lewis of Philadelphia, PA, Calvary Temple Apostolic Churches. I continued to grow and learn new things, explore different avenues and of course continued my work preaching and teaching the gospel. Under this leadership, I made history in the 1980s by being the first woman to perform an Archbishop wedding ceremony in Philadelphia, PA.

In 1987, I founded my own church, The Greater New Life Church of Jesus. I was ordained Bishop in 1995 by the late Apostle Richard Harper of the Upper Room Apostolic Church, Clover, VA. In 2000, I founded Greater New Life #2, Richmond VA and Greater New Life #3, Gasburg, VA, and in 2002, I founded Greater New Life Church in Ridgeway, VA. In 2005, I received my Bishop’s Investiture, by Bishop James Spence, pastor of Word Harvest International Ministries. In 2016, I was ordained Apostle by Apostle David E. Alston, Pastor of Progressive Harvest Fellowship Church, Henderson NC.

My extended ministry would take me to places I never dreamed of while doing my service for the Lord. He made all things possible and still does today. I’m truly thankful for all he’s done for me. I’m not boasting, but I do want to share with everybody that I was presented the Excellence in Community Service Award in 1995 by Mayor Earl Horne of South Hill, VA, received the local award for most Influential Woman in 2008 and 2016, and received the S&M Productions local Pastor of the Year Award. I am so grateful to God for these accomplishments. I’ve been blessed to preach in states as far south as Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, as far north as Maryland, District of Columbia, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and all over the state of Virginia. I am truly blessed.

For those of you who don’t know, I have nine (9) children: Theodore, Eunice (Calvin), Lorene, Marie (David), Calvin, Diane, Linda, Tony (Terry), and Brenda and a multitude of spiritual sons and daughters. It’s a full-time job watching over your children, but I loved them when they were up and when they were down. I kept them all before the Lord and lifted them up to Jesus. I also have 15 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. They are so dear to my heart, and I pray that Jesus will keep them covered under his blood and those who are not saved to get saved before it’s too late. I have one sister- Annie Esther Ruth; a sister-in-law, Nannie Smith, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

After dedicating my life to this ministry, my earthly story concluded on February 4, 2025, when my heavenly Father gently called me home. All glory and honor to my maker, my master, my keeper, my redeemer, Jesus. It’s been 54 incredible years in the gospel ministry spreading the good news of Jesus Christ and sharing His unchanging “Holy” word. Though it wasn’t smooth ground all the time, I thank God for every mountain I had to climb and every valley I tunneled through. The most important point is I got THROUGH! From Mt. Zion Apostolic to Calvary Temple Holiness to Greater New Life Apostolic…What a road traveled. Praise the Lord! I have graduated from labor to reward!

My final thoughts are THANK YOU to each of you for your support. THANK YOU for believing in the true word of God he gave me. I only knew how to preach the true word of God and if you expect to meet Jesus, always remember “You Must Be Born Again.”

Resting in the Arms of Jesus,

Apostle Mary E. Bagley, Founder/Overseer

Greater New Life Apostolic Church of Jesus