Mamie E. Perry

Mamie Evelyn Perry

On March 17, 1934 in Franklin County, Franklinton, NC. William Thomas and Mattie Louise Johnson Woods became the proud parents of their firstborn Mamie Evelyn Woods. They chose to name her Mamie Evelyn after each of their dear mothers, Mamie after her maternal grandmother and Evelyn after her paternal grandmother, and of course, her father chose to affectionately call her "Evelyn ".

Evelyn grew and received her early education at the Mitchiners Grove Baptist Church School, and her high school education took place at Albion Academy, which later became the B. F. Person High school in Franklinton, NC. After graduation Mamie married her high school sweetheart on November 16, 1953 the late James Eli Rodwell and to this union two children were born Cennie Marietta and Clarence Eli.

In 1956 Mamie Evelyn and her two children received an invitation to transition to Red Bank New Jersey, while there her uncle introduced her to his friend, James D. Perry, better known as "Bud" who also had had two children, Annette & Eugene. They were eventually joined in holy matrimony on March 11, 1959 and to this union three children were born James Chevron (deceased) Michael Gerard and Shirley Danielle.

The Perry family transitioned to Newark, NJ, where they met their neighbors, the Parker family. On one evening the late Mary Parker invited Mamie to a series of meetings called the Hope crusade, conducted by the late C.D. Brooks. Initially Mamie was very reluctant to attend however, the Lord had a plan for her life and Mamie accepted the invitation. After attending a few of the meetings, she invited her husband and their late cousin, Johnny Mary to share in her excitement and because of that one invitation they all fell in love with the Lord and committed their lives to Christ. Due to their commitment Mamie, along with their two children, Cennie and Clarence and Cousin Johnny Mary sealed their commitment through baptism and became members of the Trinity Temple Seventh Day Adventist church.

Soon after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the city of Newark became overwhelmed with riots. Mamie and James made the decision to relocate their family out of city life into rural life to a town called Anderson, New Jersey. They then transferred their church membership to the Hillcrest Seventh Day Adventist church, where they held their membership until death. Mamie and her family truly loved the Lord and their Hillcrest family. After the first year living there their son James became ill and passed at the young age of 11. The support Mamie, (who many affectionately called "Mommy Perry") Bud and the remaining children received from the church family was never forgotten. Together they served the church faithfully in many ministries, with a special love for community service which they personalized through their unrelenting sacrifice of time, finances and love shared throughout the world.

Mamie is preceded in death by James Daniel (Husband) James Chevron (Son) and Willie Eugene (Son)

Arvelya Lynn Virginia (Granddaughter) and Christina (Granddaughter)

Charles Edward (Brother) and Thomas Harold (Brother)

Mamie leaves to reflect her memories, five children:

Annette (Kenneth) Franklinton, NC

Cennie (Walter Clyde) York, PA

Clarence (Deborah) Port Murray, NJ

Michael (Raymond) Stroudsburg, PA

Shirley (Shannon) Powder Springs, GA

Her beloved grandchildren, great grandchildren & great-great grandchildren

Two sisters, Lessie (James Otis) East Orange, NJ, Faymer (Wiley) Raleigh, NC

Two brothers, William Avery, Ocean City, NJ & Julius Toussaint, New York, NY

Many nieces, nephews, relatives, friends, and church family