Rachel Eula Mae (Alston) Lee

      Rachel to some and Eula Mae to most, was born on Easter Sunday, April 8, 1928 and departed this life on August 30, 2017. She was the only child of the late Raymond Alston and Susie V. (Scott) Alston.
       She was raised in Lincoln Heights and attend school in Halifax County, graduating from John Armstrong Chaloner. After graduating high school, she lived in Washington, DC with her aunt and cousins while working at The Catholic University. After a few years, she returned home and married the late Mack Grahm Lee of Garysburg and were married for over 26 years before being widowed in February 1976.
      She was a beautiful songbird and grew up singing from an early age, but best known for her gospel solos around the area churches and into Virginia. She joined Cool Spring Baptist Church, Gaston, NC, at an early age, singing in the choir, serving on the usher board, The Willing Workers Club and the Pastor’s Aide Club. Later in life she moved her membership to London Baptist Church in Roanoke Rapids, where she sand in the choir and was a faithful member until becoming ill in 2001.
      She was an expert baker, cook, seamstress, as well as crocheting and knitting. She had gifted hands. S he worked many parttime jobs while her children were young, to be home with them. She was best known then as wonderful hairstylist, working from her home on Wyche Street. Later she attended Halifax Technical Institute and obtained her nursing license. Her former employment included Halifax Regional Hospital, Guardian Care in Roanoke Rapids and Scotland Neck, and private duty nursing. Her most cherished memories she shared was learning Yiddish words while caring for Mrs. Rose Kittner.
      When she retired from nursing, she attended Mithell’s Hairstyling aaemy and fulfilled another dream of becoming a licensed cosmetologist.
      Her daughters fondly remember all the dresses, coats, gowns, wedding dresses, sweaters, and hats, cakes and wedding cakes, through the years. To them, she could do it all and expertly so!! She loved “her girls” as she affectionately called them, and sacrificed so much for them. She taught them how to cook, sew and DANCE, because she believed in variety-in-life.
She had a voice like no other! Her favorite artist was Mahalia Jackson and she sang many of her song, but her most requested was “I Found the Answer.” She taught her daughters to pray, many songs through the years and to LOVE unconditionally. She was a loving mother, mother-in-law, grandmother and great grandmother, sharing her wisdom and many witty sayings.
      She was preceded in death by her husband and parents, but she leaves to cherish her precious memories and voice: Three daughters, Sylvia LaVerne Copeland (Dan) of Hampton, VA; Cathy Denise Hawkins of Columbus, GA; and Ramonia Gayle Davis (Jimmie Sr.) of Laurel, MD. One stepson Robert Ussery (Sandra) of Garysburg, NC. Seven grandchildren Vickie Jones and Tanya Copeland of Hampton, VA; Coby Copeland of Thorofare, NJ; Nikita Hawkins of Columbus, GA; SGT(P) LeVetia Moses of Ft. Benning, GA; Maia Makal of Gambrills, MD; Jimmie Davis II of Laurel, MD. 11 great grandchildren TaQuan, Nehaeh, Phillip Jr., Victoria, LaShamus, Jadon, Tamiya, Kenydi, Jalen, Jordan and Kamryn. One sister-in-law Gussie Silver (Robert) of Littleton, NC. A very special cousin, Carolyn Lashley Walker of Baltimore, MD, and the most cherished friend of over 59 years, she called her “baby sister”, Lillie Tabron Rice of Roanoke Rapids, NC, and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

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