by Norma Gunter
Last month the ABW lost one of our precious members, Pearl Marie Lyons. Marie put up a courageous fight for many years. Since her husband, Ben, passed away we have supported each other, especially after Lonnie died. She not only supported me but many of the other ABW ladies.
Marie was always faithful to attend and take part in our circle meetings. She loved her church, the members and loved missions. When her health started deteriorating, late 2012, and she couldn’t come to church or attend our ABW circle meetings several of us friends would take food & have lunch with her at her home. She would give me money for mission projects and would send her ABW offerings to the meetings with Helen Jackson. Last fall she shared with me about a grandson who had been to Nicaragua on a mission trip to some of the places I had been.
For months, while she waited for a house next door to her daughter to be finished, a friend stayed with her until she herself got sick. During this time Marie was giving us, her friends, her belongings. Clothing, purses, jewelry, etc. was given away. She was the most giving person I’ve known. She was an avid reader and shared a lot of her book collection with us.
When she moved to Fayetteville we made several trips to share a meal or just visit. The little log house, located in the woods, was delightful. There was even a little loft. I took pictures of the house to show my grandson who would some day love to build a log cabin.
Before Christmas we visited her at the health care facility in Oak Hill. When I visited her, for the last time, at Raleigh General Hospital, she told me about the youth from the church who came over there to sing Christmas carols. She also told me to tell everyone hello and to tell them she was doing about the same. She asked about friends who were sick, still worrying about others. That was Sunday after church. On Monday I learned she had been transferred to Hospice House. On Tuesday I received the call that she was gone. She is in her heavenly home, free of pain, walking the streets of gold, praising our Lord and waiting for us to join her. She will be missed.