Mother Eula C. Toles-Bethea

TOLES-BETHEA, Mother Eula C. - Age 72, passed away Sunday, July 24, 2022 at McLaren-Flint. Family hour 10:00 AM Saturday, August 6, 2022 at Evergreen Baptist Church, 106 E. Flint Park Blvd., with funeral service commencing at 11:00 AM. Rev. Norman McLemore, officiating. Interment Lovedale Memorial Cemetery, G-5175 E. Bristol Rd., Burton, MI. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church 10:00 AM Saturday. Mother Toles-Bethea will lie in state in the chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd. and may be viewed from Friday, August 5, 2022 from 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM. Mother Eula C. Toles-Bethea was born November 29, 1949 in Tarry, Arkansas, the daughter of Alex N. and Tedoria Harris-Toles. Eula graduated from Glendale High School in Glendale, AR and attended Pines Vocational Technical School in Pine Bluff, AR. She moved to Flint, Michigan and retired from General Motors Corporation after 28 years of service. Eula was always diligent with time management; if you were riding with Eula and you weren’t ready on time, you would surely get left. Eula was baptized at an early age at Mt. Olive AME Church in Tarry, AR. Her Christian journey led her to unite with Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Flint under the leadership of Rev. Lewis Randolph. She later united with Evergreen Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of the Founding Pastor, the late Reverend Doctor W.A. Cox, and remained there faithfully until the Lord called her home. Eula’s activities in Evergreen included singing with the Voices of Evergreen, working on the Kitchen Committee, a member of the Mission and the Mother’s Board. Her additional favorite activities were softball, fishing, cooking, growing plants and traveling. Eula loved being with her family and never missed a game when her grandson, Kortez Toles played for Grand Blanc High School. In 2003, Eula married the love of her life, Reverend John H. Bethea and that union lasted 17 years until the Lord called him home in 2020. Mother Eula C. Toles-Bethea leaves to cherish her beloved memories: daughter, Gail L. (Willie Lewis) Toles of West Memphis, AR; son, Thomas G. Toles of Grand Blanc, MI; 2 sisters, Ruby J. Walker of Little Rock, AR and special sister, Charlester Toles of Flint; 3 step-children, Glendoreia (Moustapha) Diop, Carlensha (Darrel) Grady and John Bethea Jr.; special sister-in-law, Mary Bethea, all of New Jersey; 9 grandchildren, Joshua Guidry, who is like a son because he was raised by his grandmother from a baby, Marcus Toles, Roshawnda Williams, Brittany Toles, Taisha Toles, Thomas Toles Jr., Kortez Toles, all of Flint, London Toles of Detroit, MI and Kynika Thompson of Anderson, IN; 6 great-grandchildren, Kamari Williams, Marcus Green Jr., Calvin Jones Jr., La’Bria Toles, all of Flint, Dre’onte Anderson and Dreyla Redifield, both of Anderson, IN; 2 aunts, Oleta Patterson and Vergerine Zeno, both of Tarry, AR; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and endearing friends including nieces, Reesha L. Turner, Tamera (Jason) Keys, nephew, Tywan Iverson; cousin, Reverend Floyd (Lula) Fuller; special brother-in-law, Willie Lee Iverson; and Evergreen sisters, Betty Lamar and Shirley Stitt. Mother Bethea was preceded in death by her husband, Reverend John H. Bethea; son, Searcy Rennell Smith; granddaughter, Briana Toles; parents, Alex N. and Tedoria Harris-Toles; sister, Rosie Lee Iverson; brother, Lawrence Toles; and Evergreen sister, Lucy L. White. The family would like to express special thanks to UAW Local #651 and Sis. Marilyn Fuller.

Mother Eula C. Toles-Bethea

November 29, 1949 - July 24, 2022