Mrs. Martha Helen Bethea

Passed 05/28/2023

Obituary For Mrs. Martha Helen Bethea

Mrs. Martha Helen Bethea (80) passed on Sunday, May 28th, 2023, at her residence in Little River, SC.

Viewing of Mrs. Martha Helen Bethea will be Friday, June 9th, 2023, from 10:00AM-11:00AM at Popular AME Church in Longs, SC 29568.

Funeral Service for Mrs. Martha Helen Bethea will be Friday, June 9th, 2023, at Popular AME Church in Longs, SC 29568 at 11:00AM.

Burial will follow at the church cemetery.

Mrs. Martha Helen Bethea obituary reads as follows:

On the early sunrise of May 28, 2023 “Pentecost Sunday”, Martha Helen Bethea (Smith) one of God’s Earthly Angels entered His Kingdom. She was born in Brooklyn, NY to the late Catherine Smith DeLions. She was the granddaughter of the late Joe and Dora Smith of Latta, SC. She resided in Little River, SC with her loving husband of nearly 60 years, Ulysses Bethea. Sister Martha joined Western Chapel A.M.E. Church in Latta, SC and accepted Christ as her Personal Savior at an early age. She really loved God and her church and was a faithful member. She was educated in the Dillon County school system and graduated from Latimer High School in 1960.

After graduating, she and her husband were united in Holy Matrimony and made a life together in Irvington, NJ. She continued her service to God and others. Martha joined New Hope Baptist Church in East Orange NJ and worked faithfully on the Usher Board and in other ministries. She worked as an accountant and retired from Cendant Incorporated. Martha used her gifts of excellent planning and organizational skills to work with the DCT Latimer Alumni. She was a prominent Board Member and Secretary of the DCT Latta Alumni Scholarship Organization. She worked diligently to promote the Dillon Knights and presented scholarships to graduating seniors. She was the Director of planning her class reunions and other class events. Upon retiring and returning to SC, Martha joined Poplar A.M.E. Church in Longs, SC. She was faithfully devoted to Popular and worked with the Usher Board and other ministries until she became ill. Martha used her organizational skills to plan multiple luxury cruises worldwide.

She leaves behind to celebrate and cherish her precious memories; her husband, Ulysses Bethea of Little River, SC; two sons, Anthony Bethea and Andre Bethea of Irvington, NJ; beloved granddaughters, Brianna Bethea of Brooklyn, NY, Alesha Bethea of Washington, DC, and Maki Bethea of Irvington, NJ; special sister Dorothy (Dot) Andrews of Irvington, NJ; special sister Diane Cunningham of Piscataway, NJ; brother, Henry DeLions, Jr.; sister-in law Evelyn Hernandez of Brooklyn, NY; niece Tanyanika DeLions-Smith (Shayne Smith) of Brooklyn, NY; nephew Jerome DeLions (Vanessa DeLions) of San Diego, CA; two former daughters-in-law Najm (Jean) and Tamanni; special friend, Helen “Tina” Hayes of Little River, SC; and a host ofother nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and classmates.

To know Martha is to love her. Her presence shall forever be missed but her loving memories will remain in all of our hearts.