Obituary for Deaconess Grace S. Epes
Deaconess Grace Rozita Stewart Epes, daughter of the late William “Bill “and Mary Betty Scott Stewart, was born 16 February 1928 in Nottoway County, Virginia. She departed her life on 2 March 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland.
She is known to many as “Gracie” and was married to James Edward “Fletcher” Epes, he preceded her in death. They were blessed with one daughter Phyllistine “Tina” Epes.
She attended the Nottoway County Public Schools. Grace joined the Mt Gazerine Baptist Church in Blackstone, VA in 1938 under the leadership of Rev L. A. Wilson. She began playing piano by ear at the age of six. She retrieved her Mom’s Music Notes and at age twelve she could play by notes. At age twelve she won a Recital and received free Music Lessons for four years under the leadership of Professor Jones. At age sixteen, having completed all of her music lessons, played her first Music Concerto “Just A Little While to Stay Here” at First Baptist Church in Victoria, VA and her Mother sung the solo. At this time, upon the completion of her Concerto, she was presented her Music Certificate by Professor Jones.
She completed the LUE SCOTT Beauticians School in Hackensack, NJ, and became Owner/Operator of her Beauty Shop “GRACIE’S” in Blackstone, VA for approximately fifty years. She gained employment with Nottoway County School Board, working as a Commercial Bus driver for approximately thirty years. During this employment, she trained men and women to drive for approximately fourteen years. Additionally, she was employed at Camp Pickett, Virginia assigned to the Post Exchange, Military Hospital Receptionist and a Supervisor for Evaluation Technique Unit based out of Fort Meade, MD for approximately fifteen years.
She worked faithfully at Mt Gazerine Baptist Church, holding the position of President of Pastor’s Aide Society for twenty-five years under the leadership of Reverend G.W. Megginson and Reverend R. J. Nickens. She was an ordained Deaconess, worked in the Missionary Society over forty years, Songstress in the Mt Gazerine Baptist Church Choir and became their Assistant Organist for approximately twenty-five years.
She was preceded in death by two best friends, Dorothy Craig and Anna Davis, but leaves to mourn: her daughter, Phyllistine “Tina” Epes of Baltimore, MD; grandson, Ira “Pookie” Young of Buford, GA; great granddaughter, Kaliyah “Tee” Pendergrass of Baltimore, MD; sister-in-law, Carrie Epes of Blackstone, VA; brother-in-law, Earl Johnson of Richmond, VA; nieces, Mary Ann Green (Linwood) of Bronx, NY, Marian Jones of Virginia Beach, VA, Beatrice Chandler of Brooklyn, NY, Betty Hobbs of Alexandria, VA, Lucille Lester of Philadelphia, PA and Mae Helen Johnson of Mt. Vernon, NY; nephews, John Ed Hicks and Melvin Epes of Blackstone, VA; godson, James “Jimmy” Stewart of Blackstone, VA; devoted cousin, Roosevelt Scott of Baltimore, MD; best friends Lottie Moses, Geneva Harris and Rosa Lee Brown all of Baltimore, MD; a host of other nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
The Family will visit with friends at the funeral home on Friday from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.
Funeral Services Saturday, March 14, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. at Mt. Gazerine Baptist Church, Blackstone with interment in the church cemetery
W.E. Hawkes & Son Funeral Home of Blackstone in charge of arrangements.
The Family will visit with friends at the funeral home on Friday from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.
Funeral Services Saturday, March 14, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. at Mt. Gazerine Baptist Church, Blackstone with interment in the church cemetery
W.E. Hawkes & Son Funeral Home of Blackstone in charge of arrangements.
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She is known to many as “Gracie” and was married to James Edward “Fletcher” Epes, he preceded her in death. They were blessed with one daughter Phyllistine “Tina” Epes.
She attended the Nottoway County Public Schools. Grace joined the Mt Gazerine Baptist Church in Blackstone, VA in 1938 under the leadership of Rev L. A. Wilson. She began playing piano by ear at the age of six. She retrieved her Mom’s Music Notes and at age twelve she could play by notes. At age twelve she won a Recital and received free Music Lessons for four years under the leadership of Professor Jones. At age sixteen, having completed all of her music lessons, played her first Music Concerto “Just A Little While to Stay Here” at First Baptist Church in Victoria, VA and her Mother sung the solo. At this time, upon the completion of her Concerto, she was presented her Music Certificate by Professor Jones.
She completed the LUE SCOTT Beauticians School in Hackensack, NJ, and became Owner/Operator of her Beauty Shop “GRACIE’S” in Blackstone, VA for approximately fifty years. She gained employment with Nottoway County School Board, working as a Commercial Bus driver for approximately thirty years. During this employment, she trained men and women to drive for approximately fourteen years. Additionally, she was employed at Camp Pickett, Virginia assigned to the Post Exchange, Military Hospital Receptionist and a Supervisor for Evaluation Technique Unit based out of Fort Meade, MD for approximately fifteen years.
She worked faithfully at Mt Gazerine Baptist Church, holding the position of President of Pastor’s Aide Society for twenty-five years under the leadership of Reverend G.W. Megginson and Reverend R. J. Nickens. She was an ordained Deaconess, worked in the Missionary Society over forty years, Songstress in the Mt Gazerine Baptist Church Choir and became their Assistant Organist for approximately twenty-five years.
She was preceded in death by two best friends, Dorothy Craig and Anna Davis, but leaves to mourn: her daughter, Phyllistine “Tina” Epes of Baltimore, MD; grandson, Ira “Pookie” Young of Buford, GA; great granddaughter, Kaliyah “Tee” Pendergrass of Baltimore, MD; sister-in-law, Carrie Epes of Blackstone, VA; brother-in-law, Earl Johnson of Richmond, VA; nieces, Mary Ann Green (Linwood) of Bronx, NY, Marian Jones of Virginia Beach, VA, Beatrice Chandler of Brooklyn, NY, Betty Hobbs of Alexandria, VA, Lucille Lester of Philadelphia, PA and Mae Helen Johnson of Mt. Vernon, NY; nephews, John Ed Hicks and Melvin Epes of Blackstone, VA; godson, James “Jimmy” Stewart of Blackstone, VA; devoted cousin, Roosevelt Scott of Baltimore, MD; best friends Lottie Moses, Geneva Harris and Rosa Lee Brown all of Baltimore, MD; a host of other nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
The Family will visit with friends at the funeral home on Friday from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.
Funeral Services Saturday, March 14, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. at Mt. Gazerine Baptist Church, Blackstone with interment in the church cemetery
W.E. Hawkes & Son Funeral Home of Blackstone in charge of arrangements.
The Family will visit with friends at the funeral home on Friday from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.
Funeral Services Saturday, March 14, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. at Mt. Gazerine Baptist Church, Blackstone with interment in the church cemetery
W.E. Hawkes & Son Funeral Home of Blackstone in charge of arrangements.
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