Celebrating the life of....Lena Mae Atwater Paylor
Funeral Services: Friday, August 9, 2019
1:30 pm
Hickory Grove Missionary Baptist Church 9112 Bethal Hickory Grove Church Road Chapel Hill, NC 27516
Her Spiritual Journey
If you want to know where I’m going, where I’m going soon. I’m going up yonder, I’m going up yonder to be with my Lord… As God gives me grace, I’ll run this race until I see my Savior face to face. Lena Mae Atwater Paylor took her angel wings as the Master called her home on August 3, 2019. She was born on May 13, 1934 to the late Charlie Lee and Arlena Mae Oldham Atwater in Durham, North Carolina.
Lena married the love of her life, the late Herbert Paylor. Seeking to flourish her spiritual foundation, Lena joined Hickory Grove Missionary Baptist Church where she served faithfully on the Senior Choir, Usher Board, Nursing Aid, Pastor Aid and Kitchen Committee until her health declined.
“Mother” as she was affectionately known by family and friends, will be remembered for her love and devotion she gave to all. She was a devoted wife and mother with a humble spirit that earned her the respect of her peers, fellowman and the love of her community. Seeking to always find the best in others, Mother had her own way of reprimanding you. Her soft spoken voice but straight forward words, would encourage you to do the right thing. She said what she meant, and meant what she said.
Cooking was a passion for Mother, she enjoyed enticing family and friends with her southern cooking. For over 44 years she worked for Kappa Delta Sorority providing countless meals for the residents before retiring. Her food was so good that workers would often accept food for payment. Mother was the pillar to her community, as she sat on her front porch a sense of security was there; Sunset Drive will never be the same. Mother never missed a Carolina “Tarheel” basketball game, she would intensely watch them play. The Tarheels has lost a long and dedicated fan.
Lena was proceeded in death by her parents; husband, and two brothers, John “Bebe” Atwater and James Atwater.
Mother leaves to cherish fond and precious memories four generations of legacies, her daughter and best friend, Linda Fearrington of Chapel Hill, NC; her son, Devon Paylor of Snow Camp, NC; four grandchildren: Kim Fearrington of Chapel Hiill, NC, Vilita (Eugene) Worthy of Durham, NC, Norman “BJ” Fearrington of Brooklyn, NY, and Antanika Edwards of Mebane, NC; five great grandchildren: Cumun Fearrington, Timmeshia Wilson, Tim “TJ” Arrington, Deneara Worthy and Charlie Court Fearrington; five great– great grandchildren: Dominic Miller, Charli Raye Fearrington, Nicholas Wilson, Noah Wilson and Harper Wilson; one sister, Laura Dukes of Chapel, Hill, NC; two extended granddaughters, Nancy Fearrington and Coretta “Lynn” Sharpless and a host of nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends.
Humbly Submitted,
The Family
