Ms. Evelyn Bernice Mace

Obituary For Ms. Evelyn Bernice Mace

My Mom… what can I say? My Mom, Mother Evelyn Bernice Campbell, was born on December 8, 1949, just thirty minutes earlier than her twin, Carolyn Glenice Campell, to the late Early Lee and Eva Mae Singletary Campbell in Sellers, South Carolina. The twins were affectionately called “Essie & Flossie” by my Grandma Eva. Evelyn was educated in the Latta, South Carolina School System, graduating from Latimer High School in class of 1967. Immediately upon graduating from high school, she married my Dad, now deceased, Willie Mace, aka “Shack.” Through that union, yours truly, Roderick, was given life. My Mom was a hard-working, faithful employee of Craftex Creations in Latta for many years; then she worked for Marion Ceramics until retirement. My Mom believed in family. Grandma Eva instilled in her children that family members should look out for one another; she taught them that they should pull together and not allow any one of them to go lacking. My mom took that teaching seriously, but it didn’t stop with family—she had a heart for people. All people. Throughout her career, there were always those who could count on her for a ride to work. The same was true for church. If you wanted to go and she had space, you had a ride. My mom loved beautiful things: furniture, home decor, curtains, blinds, flowers . . . But, again, she did not want anyone else to go lacking in that area either. My mom was a giver, and there are many who could testify (and they would have to tell because she never did) that’s when they purchased a home or just wanted to spruce up their homes, my Mom would give them furnishings and would even help with the decorating. I have actually seen her take items from her home to give to someone else, and she would just replace hers later - whenever she could. My own testimony is that when I moved into my first home, I didn’t have to buy anything for the house! I also have a vivid memory of walking out of church one night, and a lady walked up and began talking about how much she loved the hat my mom was wearing. Well, my mom went home without the hat; she took it off and gave it to her. My Mom never wanted to take the reins; she just wanted to help in any capacity that she could. She always said, “It’s not about a ‘Big Me;’ you just have to be humble.” Her love for people was also expressed by her overwhelmingly non-confrontational, non-argumentative demeanor. If she sensed that a person didn’t want to be “bothered” with her, she would just back off. There was one area, however, in which my Mom would never back down - it was her walk with Christ. In 1976, at a Noon Day Prayer Service in Riverdale, South Carolina, my Mom got saved and received the Baptism of the Holy Ghost. From that point on, she lived a life in pursuit of God. Her Christian heritage began at Glenn’s Chapel United Methodist Church & New Mt. Zion AME Church, both in Sellers. On her Christian journey, she also traveled through the Highway Church Of Christ (Bishop R.F. Davis), Palmetto Deliverance Born Again Church (Bishop John W. Barber), and The Door Of Hope Christian Church (Bishop Michael & Pastor Malinda Blue), before deciding in her later years to return to New Mt. Zion AME Church. My Mom loved being in church - she was an “on-fire, holy roller!” However, I assure you, she was the same in church and out. She believed what she believed; she talked the same talk and walked the same walk no matter where she was. In church, my mom would tarry intensely with those at the “mourners’ bench;” outside the church, she was a bold, no-nonsense witness for Christ and would approach people anywhere. After a warm smile and kind conversation, inevitably the question would be asked: “If you were to die today, where would you go?” And, the instructions would be given, “You need to repent and be baptized in Jesus’ Name.” But, because of her humble, consistent life, people respected her. I have seen those that she approached trying to hide the cigarettes and “the bottle” until she left. My Mom’s faith wasn’t just for others; she would tell me, “Son, you’d better pray!” and we had a Bible in every room. She would tell me, “At the end of the day, you’ve got to know God for yourself.” During one season, we were in church so much at Riverdale and Whiteville, that even her family members began to say, “You go to church too much.” But, the Seed of the Word was being planted even as I sat in church and did homework and played sometimes. The prayers that she consistently pronounced over my life kept me. Her profession of “I ain’t got no money for the doctor; I just know how to pray,” brought me through illness. My Mom did not go through the motions with prayer; she was a woman of faith who KNEW that something would happen. She knew that God would make a way. My Mom . . . what can I say? A simple lady. No flashy life. It didn’t take a lot for her. She was old-fashioned. She believed in modest apparel. I know she wasn’t perfect (only Christ is), but I have lived with her for fifty years, and the only fault that I saw was that she beat me too much! She enjoyed going out to eat. She was turned on to quartet music in 1997 at a Doc McKenzie concert and remained a fan of his and of Lee Williams for life. She had a beautiful smile, a humble spirit, a heart for Christ and a heart for people. My Mom . . . what can I say? She is just simply an amazing woman - not “was” - IS. Predeceased family: Parents: Early Lee & Eva Campbell, brother: Bernard Campbell, aunts: Blanche Thomas, Margaret Wheeler, Beatrice Fleming, Mable Singletary; uncle: Wilson (Fannie) Campbell; Nephew: Tyrone Wheeler; Niece: Pamela Wheeler.

Family ~ Son & daughter: Roderick and Lucinda Mace; grandchildren: Roderick Mace, Jr., Cornelia Mace; siblings: Carolyn {Pastor Jimmy} Gilchrist, Marolyn Vandroff, Bevelyn {Ben Jr.} Horne, Marion (Jannie) Campbell; aunts: Ethel Singletary, Gertrude Singletary, Shirley Huggins, Sylvia Jean Bowles, Vivian Brigman, Phyllis Powell, Druscilla Stewart, Cynthia Campbell, Dale Campbell; uncle: David Campbell; sisters-in-law: Evelyn Ann Campbell, Cora Wheeler, Alberta Clark, Deborah McCollum, Clara Legette; brother-in-law: Carnell (Gloria) Mace; nieces: Miranda (Bryan Keith) McNair, Angela Horne, Sylvia Vandroff, LaTonya Vandroff, Brittany Campbell, Elaine Mace; nephews: Ben Javon Horne, Christopher Vandroff, Fred Campbell, Sherwin Mace, Terris Mace, Julius Mace.