Mary "Tulip" Eva Lee Lathan

Obituary For Mary "Tulip" Eva Lee Lathan

On November 9th, 1947 Mary (Tulip) Eva Lee Lathan entered the world to the late Thomas Eugene Sr. and Alleyne Lathan. She was the first grandchild of the late Albert and Irma Lathan. She is the sister of the late Thomas Eugene Lathan, Jr. and survived by sisters Doris Ann Hill, Barbara Elizabeth Patterson (Leonard), and Donna Elaine Davis. Whether she was Mom, Mary, Grandma, Tulip, Cousin, Niecy, Aunty, or Friend, Tulip was gifted to be a blessing to those around her.

She went to Carver High School in Spindale where she met and married the late George Washington and moved to New Jersey. She attended William Patterson College and was called to become a nurse in 1970, a profession she would retire from in 2013. She continued to care for others her entire life. Mom leaves her children to cherish her memory, Rodney Eugene Lathan, Anthony Tyrone Washington, Sr. (Dolly), Endiah Washington, Tanyah Jones (Gregory), Mantheo (Ron) Lathan, Michael Christopher Lynch, Dayshana Alleyne Lathan, and Viaton Dayshone Phelps.

Mary began her career as a nurse working at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Paterson, New Jersey. She worked as an ER nurse before transferring to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit where she would remain for thirteen years. In 1984, she relocated back to North Carolina where she worked in geriatrics in several of the skilled nursing homes in Rutherford County. She loved her patients, co-workers, and staff. During the global Covid pandemic, Mary was known for sewing hundreds of customized masks. Mary loved taking care of others but being a grandma was the ultimate blessing for her.

Grandma is survived by her tribe of 16 grandchildren, India, Viaton, Eric (Wildalis), Janelly, Tyrone Jr., Tori, Wilde, Marcus, Isaiah, Malachi, Gracie, Jorden, Jonathan, Neveah, Zion, and MaRiziah. She is also survived by her tribe of 5 great-grandchildren, Nayloni, Nova, Zee, Kayden, and Melanie. Grandma loved all of her grandbabies. She was the primary caregiver for her grandson Jorden, her partner in crime, her road-dawg, and they were inseparable. She will be missed dearly. Family was an important part of her life and mom was known for her love and sacrifice for her family. She fed anyone who was blessed to walk through her door. Holidays were her shining moments because she was a skilled MasterChef! Tulip will be missed by a host of uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends. The village that has surrounded her life has been a source of joy. Just as her family was an important part of her life, her relationship with the Lord was primary.

Mary loved the Lord Jesus Christ. She grew up in a faith filled family attending St. John A.M.E. Zion Church in Rutherfordton, North Carolina as a child. She received Him as her Lord and Savior in 1980 and became a member of Worldwide Evangelistic Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ in Paterson, New Jersey. She later joined Shiloh Evangelistic Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ also in Paterson. In 2018 Mary began attending Mount Zion Church in Greensboro, North Carolina. She was instrumental in introducing her children to God and ensured that for her and her house, they would serve the Lord. She was a living example of Jesus’ command to love God and love others. Mom went home to be with the Lord and moved into her mansion on Saturday, May 20th, 2023. She will be missed by many but while “Death takes the body, God takes the soul, our mind holds the memories, our heart keeps the love. But our faith lets us know we will meet again.”

Quiet Hour 11:00 AM

Saturday May 27, 2023

Service 12:00 PM

St. John A.M.E. Zion Church

109 N. Ridgecrest Ave. Rutherfordton, NC 28139

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