Mae Lesta Reaves Bethea

To everything there is a season, to everything under the heaven…                                

                                                                                     Ecclesiastes 3:1

A Time to be Born

Mae Lesta Reaves Bethea was born on December 5, 1957. She was born to the late Henry and Rebecca Smith Reaves in Mullins, South Carolina. She was a resident of Fork, South Carolina and later moved to Hampton, Virginia where she lived for twenty-seven years.

A Time to Worship

Mae accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as her personal Savior and was a lifelong member of Shiloh United Methodist Church. She served faithfully in her your and stayed active spiritually and financially when she move to Hampton, Virginia. She attended physically whenever she was home and able to go.

A Time to Learn

She graduated from Lake View High School in 1975 where she was involved in many extra-curricular activities. She graduated from Morris College in 1979 with Bachelor’s Degree in Social Science.

A Time to Love

Mae was joined in Holy Matrimony to Roy Milton Bethea, the forever love of her life on November 9, 1991. They shared their love with many foster children and became Godparents to Vernee’ White, Shymire Reaves, Mia Wilson and Trevon Reaves. They became parents for a short time to Maurice Clark, a beloved nephew. Mae was a humble soul who showered loved and showed compassion to all she encountered; her clients at work, her foster children and her siblings. She passionately loved children and would always lend a helping hand without reservation. Her giving spirit was a gift from God.

A Time to Work

Mae was employed as a Counselor as the Dillon County Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission for a number of years. She later moved to Hampton, Virginia where she was employed by Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board as a Substance Abuse Counselor. She retired in September of 2017 after 20 plus years of service.

A Time to Pleasure

Mae enjoyed traveling, shopping, cooking, baking, sewing, interior decorating and spending time with her family and friends.

A Time to Mourn

Those left to cherish her loving memory:

Her loving husband: Roy Milton Bethea of Hampton Virginia.

Her Sisters: Frances (Elroy) Pringle of Florence, SC; Gloria Brown and Loretta Goodman of Fork, SC; Gail (Nathaniel) Wilson of Columbia, SC; Roberta (Vernon) White of St. Stephen, SC and Esther Parker of Chadburn, NC.

Her Brothers: William (Betty) Reaves of Trenton, NJ; Elder Maceo (Mary) Reaves of Lake View, SC; Larry Reaves of Fork, SC; Milton (Sandra) Reaves of Hampton, VA and Timothy (Gina) Reaves of Chesapeake, VA; one brother, Carlton (Martha) Reaves preceded her in death.

Her Sisters-in-law: Brenda Bethea of Dillon, SC and Ella M. Thomas of Jacksonville, FL.

Her Brother-in-law: Tony (Philiece) Mills of Las Vegas, NV.

Her Aunt: Lillie Irene Brown of Lake View, SC.

Maternal First Cousins: Margie Brown of Albany, NY and Vivian Smith of Baltimore, MD.

Nieces, Nephews, Cousins, other relatives and friends.

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