Mother Lillian Bonita (Thomas) Dunlap

DUNLAP, Mother Lillian Bonita (Thomas) - Age 87, passed away Thursday, April 2, 2020 at Ascension-Genesys. Mother Dunlap will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., and may be viewed 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM Friday. Mother Lillian Bonita Thomas Dunlap was born to the late Apostle Perry and Mother Rosetta Thomas in Ragland, Alabama on November 20, 1932. Mother Dunlap, being next to the oldest of 7 children, was filled with the Holy Ghost at a very early age. She earned her High School diploma from Kimball High School in Kimball, West Virginia. Her educational pursuits at Miami Valley School of Nursing (LPN), Dayton, Ohio; Miami Jacob Business College, Dayton, Ohio; Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ Bible Institute; Evangelical Teacher Training Association (ETTA) and Berea Bible College, Flint, MI aided her in accomplishing many roles in her life. On June 1, 1953 Lillian was joined in Holy matrimony to Raymond H. Dunlap and together formed a loving union. From this union was born Priscilla, Nuana, Odelia, Raymond Jr., Sandy, Perry, and Emma. In 1966 after hearing a voice from the Lord, in a vision, saying “And I will send them two by two, into a land where I myself will later come,” Bishop and Mother Dunlap moved to Michigan and established the Eliezer Church of the Apostolic Faith - Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ (COOLJC). Mother Dunlap worked faithfully beside her husband serving in every capacity of the church including Youth Department, Sunday School Department (as a Teacher, and Director), Music Department (Choir Director), Ministers and Deacon’s Wives Guild, Women Council, the President of the Missionary Department, and Principal at Hope Academy founded by her daughter Odelia D. Dunlap. Additionally, Mother Dunlap served in a number of capacities within the Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith, Inc. including International Missionary Department (Choir Director), International Women’s Council, International Ministers and Deacon’s Wives Guild, Minnesota Diocese State Missionary President; State Mother of Minnesota; State Mother of the Northern Michigan Diocese. In 1990 Mother Dunlap heard the voice of the Lord saying “Lillian I want you to go full-time into Mission.” So with the words from the Lord, she began telling and instructing the women “God wants you Physically Fit, Mentally Alert, Spiritually Empowered, and Financially Secure.” Mother Dunlap became a compelling spiritual author. She published “Words From the Lord For The Women,” “Go To Sleep With Mother’s Prayers,” Mountain Top Prayers,” and many other inspiring writings. She was also known as the “Praying Mother of the Air.” Her broadcast “Go to Sleep with Mother’s Prayers” was heard nightly on the radio. Mother Dunlap leaves to cherish her memories: devoted husband, Bishop Raymond H. Dunlap, three daughters, Nuana, Odelia, and Emma Dunlap of Michigan; three sons, Raymond Jr., Sandy (Shara) Dunlap of Florida, and Perry (Tina) Dunlap of Michigan; 19 Grand Children: TaJuana (Trey) Benton, Tatilia (Dion) Burroughs, Bruce-Raymond (Lynn) King, Amelia Foster, LaToya (Jonathan) Drapeau, Sean Dunlap, Bre’Anna Dunlap, Charmaine (Julian) Nichols, Theresa (Delmikco) Copeland, LaNotta Dunlap, Justin Pope-Dunlap, Kayla Dunlap, and Jaylen Dunlap; 18 Great-grand Children: Bri’ana (Malik) Sims, Kyndal, and Preston Burroughs, Naomi, Nathan, and David King, Carter Shannon, Mila Nichols, Liam Drapeau, and Garion, Des’Anaya, Mikco, Mario, Dariyah, Dariyus, Devon, and Dalonee Copeland; Sister Veronica Hill of Oxford, Alabama; Brother-in-Law Deacon Tommy Fears of Atlanta, Georgia; aunt Maudie Rogers of Lansing, Michigan; a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins. Godchildren: Marguerite Mitchell, Shirley Godwin, Elder Samuel Patton, Eleanor Bentley, Chanceni Hamilton, and Arelillian Taylor; Special god-grandchildren Darwin Copeland, Ayunna Bentley and Te’Ayshia Morgan. Mother Dunlap was preceded in death by her daughter Priscilla Dunlap, parents Apostle Perry and Mother Rosetta Thomas, three sisters Mother Doris Dorothy (Bishop Lonnie) Green, Dr. Marva Fears, and Sallie Brown; two brothers Bishop Sherman (Mary) Thomas, and Bishop Edward (Mattie) Thomas; and brother-in-law Elder Connolly Hill; grandparents Frank and Sallie Looney; and John Henry and Martha Thomas. The family would like to express special thanks to the Eliezer Church of the Apostolic Faith family, Mother Carolyn Hudson, Sister Marilyn Brown, Ascension Genesys Hospital, and Kith Haven Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

Mother Lillian Bonita (Thomas) Dunlap

November 20, 1932 - April 2, 2020