Evelyn D Bethea

MOTHER EVELYN DUDLEY BETHEA Mother Evelyn Dudley Bethea peacefully transitioned into eternal life on Friday, May 30, 2025, surrounded by her loving family. Evelyn Bethea was born on March 8, 1934, in Dillon, South Carolina. She was one of the eleven children of her proud parents, Harry and Clara Dudley. She received her formal education in the Dillon Public School System and was a graduate of Dillon High School. Evelyn was united in marriage to Joshua Bethea. Of this union five beautiful children, Inez, John, Ronald, Harry and Laura were born. She and her lovely family migrated to Stamford, Connecticut in 1953. Following the completion of academic courses in the field of nursing at Wright Technical School in Stamford, Mrs. Bethea shared her nursing skills as an employee of Stamford and St. Joseph Hospitals. She also engaged in private nursing care. A devout and committed Christian, Evelyn Bethea was a faithful member of Union Baptist Church for seventy-one years, having joined the church in September of 1953 under the pastoral leadership of Reverend I. Logan Kearse. There she was a dedicated member of the Helping Hand Ministry of which she was a Charter Member and held several offices; and was additionally a member of the Pastor’s Aid Ministry, and The South Carolina Club. She also graciously served as a melodious vocalist in The Gospel Chorus, The Young Adult Choir, The UBC Mass Choir, The Women’s Choir, and The UBC Gospel Choir of which she was a founding member. As a senior church member, she enjoyed the activities of the Autumn Gold Ministry. An ardent participant on many Special Day committees, she was additionally selected to be a venerable Church Mother on January 24, 2019. A culinary artist, who discovered her abilities and talents in food preparation and shared them with her family at thirteen years of age. Mother Evelyn was renowned for the delicious meals, her famous banana puddings and the delectable pound cakes which she generously shared with the Union Baptist Church congregation on numerous celebratory occasions. Mother Evelyn Bethea also blessed the Stamford community with her devoted volunteerism at the St. Luke’s Life Works Center and The Yerwood Community Center. Evelyn Dudley Bethea was a dedicated and compassionate mother who diligently nurtured her children in religious ideals and maintained a profound and abiding love for her family. She savored the significant quality time which she was privileged to spend with her children, grandchildren, great - grandchildren, great-great grandchildren and other familial relatives. A marvelous hostess, Mother Bethea derived immense pleasure from preparing festive banquets for family members and friends on Thanksgiving, Christmas and many other special occasions throughout the year. Dinner guests were consistently greeted by the appetizing food aromas which filled the atmosphere as they cheerfully entered Mother Bethea’s domain. A talented seamstress and interior decorator, she was an elegant lady of impeccable high fashion style and grace. She was a congenial and sociable individual who generously embraced others with her warm and endearing smile and exuberant and vivacious personality. Mother Evelyn Bethea significantly enhanced the lives of others through tangible acts of kindness and was, indeed, an exemplary resource of spiritual inspiration for many people. She leaves to cherish her treasured memory: three children: Inez Bethea- Williams (West Haven, Ct.), Ronald Bethea (Stamford, Ct.), and Laura Bethea- James (Monroe) (Fayetteville, N.C.) ; her thirteen grandchildren, her great- grandchildren and great- great- grandchildren, two brothers: Robert Dudley(Rachel) and James Willie Adams (Geraldine) both of Dillon, South Carolina, and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, extended family members and friends. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by two sons: John and Harry Bethea, five sisters, Amanda, Georgianna, Tommie Jane, Inez and Teressa, and three brothers: Colon, Harold and Thomas. Mother Evelyn Dudley Bethea will be lovingly remembered as the perfect embodiment of a faithful Christian, loyal and compassionate mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great- great grandmother, family mentor, honorable servant of God and humanity and benevolent relative and friend whose love and inspiration will be infinitely perpetuated in our hearts. Visitation will be held on Thursday June 5, 2025 from 10:00AM – 11:00AM followed by a service of celebration at 11:00AM at Union Baptist Church, 805 Newfield Ave., Stamford, CT., Officiant: Rev. Andre L. Bradley. Service will be streamed on Zoom Link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82267680186 Interment will follow at Fairfield Memorial Park, Stamford, CT.

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Evelyn D Bethea

March 8, 1934 - May 30, 2025