Obituary of Ethel Waiters

A Time to Be Born On July 27, 1921, the late John Oscar Stroman and Annie Felicia Millhouse Stroman welcomed their third daughter, Ethel, affectionately called "Etha Lee" by friends and "Tang" by her father. A Time to Die On Friday, February 17, 2023, Mother Ethel Waiters made her glorious transition from Atlanticare Regional Medical Center after 101 years of service to the Lord. A Time Grow She grew up in around Livingston, South Carolina and attended Bethel Public School with her sisters, Cornice, Lonnie, Lena and Eunice and her brothers, Edwin, Jaycee, Woodrow, John and Rance. She attended Bethel Methodist Church and enjoyed visits to Turkey Branch Church. In 1985, the Stroman- Millhouse Family Reunion visited Turkey Branch and sang a selection. This was such a historic event. A Time To Love During World War II, young Ethel worked at Fort Jackson. She soon met James Waiters who was working in Waiters family business. Mother Waiters often told us the story of how she saw him looking at her, jingling change in his pocket; she showed demonstrated how she walk by him, looking over her shoulder. They fell in love, courted, and were married on July 12, 1943. They then moved north, first to Philadelphia, then to Atlantic City. A Time To Live In 1953, she was baptized in the name of Jesus by Bishop Hobart Taliaferro at Christ Gospel Church in Atlantic City, NJ. She received the Holy Ghost and ran home to tell her husband. He said, "if you join the church I am moving to California", she said, "you will have to move, because I am joining". Not long after, he was also baptized in the Name of Jesus and filled with the Holy Ghost. She served as President of the Young People and sang on the choir. Mother Waiters loved working with young people. She would gather them around the piano in her sing for hours in her home. She was also affiliated with the New Jersey State Pentecostal Assemblies of the World and was a member of the state choir, missionary department and ministers' wives. Mother loved cooking and serving family dinners. For years her house was the gathering place at holidays ~ we most fondly remember her "pot 45" that consisted of leftovers and her "ambrosia", which never had the same ingredients ~ her crown for the best dishes. She worked in the hotel industry ~ she often tells of her job as a switchboard operator, getting confused and pulling all the connectors out. Mother loved life and laughter. A Time to Sow In 1961, Mother, Bishop Waiters and their daughter Mary, relocated to Columbia, SC. They founded the Shiloh Temple Church, which began in the dining room of their home at 4704 Norman Street in the Golden Acres section. They soon moved the ministry to 1709 Cody Street, in Harlem Heights. Dedicated to her mission, Mother Waiters was known for gathering children and teaching them to sing. She would drive all over Columbia picking up people for church and rehearsals, having pie and cake sales and special events. Mother Waiters always said, she like that white horse – going through her family telling them they must repent, be baptized in the Name of Jesus for the remission of sins and received the Holy Ghost, speaking in tongues as the spirit gives utterance. She worked in her family "sowing" seeds for salvation. Her greatest joy was witnessing to people, having afternoon church services and programs. She invited groups from the community to come in and sing. The Stroman-Millhouse family has a legacy of music – it's in our bones! In 1964, Bishop and, Mother Waiters heeded a greater call on their lives and returned to Atlantic City. After efforts to fellowship, and cast their lots with churches in the community, they realized that a greater purpose was on their lives. In September 1966, they founded Shiloh Temple Church in a storefront at 121 Melrose Avenue. In 1967, Shiloh Temple moved into 505 Madison Avenue. Mother Waiters worked going into the hedges and highways compelling men, women, and children to come to Jesus. She formed the Sunlight Choir for children to have a more active part in the church. After working all day, she devoted her evening hours to picking up children from as far away as McKee City, rehearse them and drive them home. To assist with expenses Mother rented a store front on Arctic Avenue selling clothing before and after work. She loved having yards sales, sub sales and car washes. Mother Waiters encouraged women…"Work with Your Husband" and she was a working example… 1974 Fire struck ~ the beginning of blessings ~ many families were baptized and filled with the Holy Ghost 1974 Transmitted first radio broadcast (WLDB) 1977 A Mortgage Burning Service was held to burn the mortgage on the original building 1980 The Outreach Ministries Fellowship Conference was established to meet April, July, November. 1984 Addition to Shiloh – a multipurpose room, kitchen, restrooms, access ramp and parking lot. 1993 Celebrated 50th Wedding Anniversary; Renewed vows; Reception at Trump Plaza - 300+ guests 1993 Groundbreaking for Shiloh Temple Cathedral by the Sea ~ Completed in 1994 1995 Dedication of Bishop James A. Waiters Lane by James Mayor Whelan 1998 Sponsored a Sunlight Choir Reunion (of past 32 years) Holiday Inn Boardwalk 2001 80th Birthday Celebration at the Crystal Ballroom 2003 Celebrated 60th Wedding Anniversary at Holiday Inn Crystal Ballroom 2005 Golden Shovel Groundbreaking Ceremony for Installation of an Elevator (completed 2006) 2006 Unveiling and Memorial Service for Bishop Waiters in Columbia, SC (July 22-23) 2010 Dedication of the Elevator to commemorate 90th Birthday of Bishop James A. Waiters (May 23) 2010 Installation (July 22) and Dedication of the Golden Dome Cupola by Mayor Langford (September 5) 2010 Sunlight Reunion celebrating Mother Waiters 90th Birthday (on her 89th Birthday) Mother Waiters continued with a mind to work on into her 90's; she organized a Car Wash by calling her old Sunlights to come on over and wash some cars. She was full of joy watching us work. She never compromised on the Word of God ~ I don't want "Nobody" half-stepping, laying their hands on me. Her favorite quotes were, When you see me coming – you know I've got Jesus on my mind; "stay in your lane" and of course her most famous "And it Worked"! Mother often said, I have held every office in the church except in the Brotherhood, but I was their Choir Director. "I can play just as good as you can sing". A Time To Reflect and Revisit In 2008, Mother Waiters and her sister, Lena, to visit their childhood home ~ they shared many precious childhood memories that filled the car with laughter. Yes and we found "4 hole" and the "boiling springs" ~ the places we have all grew up hearing about. A Time to Cherish Memories Waiting for Mother Waiters in heaven is her loving husband of 61 years, Bishop James A. Waiters; In life, she cherished the loving memories of her son, John Harold; grandson, Aaron Andre Parrish; parents, John Oscar Stroman and Annie Felicia Millhouse Stroman; brothers Edwin, Jaycee, John, Woodrow, and Rance; and sisters: Cornice Capers, Eunice Thomas, Lonnie Brown and grandson Antonio Brown. Cherishing the memories of her Life is her daughter, 1st Lady Mary A. Parrish; Son-in-law, Bishop Billal Parrish; Granddaughter, Monique and her husband, Anthony Flowers; grandchildren, Shamarae Brown, Bianca Mundy, her husband Carsie and her son Nicholas; Her grandson, Don V. Parrish and his children Mercedez and Dymir Tatem, Dominique and Jerome Walker, Zayon Pitts, Sr; NeTasha and NeVaeh and his grandchildren, Zayon, Jr., Dymir, Jr., Alana, and Chloe; her godson Paul Moore, Jr. A very special niece, Linda Wheeler and a very special great-niece, Angela Jenkins-Chisholm who worked with Mother Waiters and the Sunlight Choir for over 40 years and continues the Legacy. Also, Sisters-in-law, Dr. Ruby W. Watts (Rufus); Ms. Margaret Hunter, Ms. Evelyn Waiters and Mrs. Eddie Stroman; her special-friend cousin, Ms. Marie Boykin; The Stroman-Millhouse Family, The Waiters-Anderson Family, her children in the Gospel of Shiloh Temple Apostolic Cathedral and Remnants of Grace Apostolic Church, established by her son-in-law, Bishop Billal Parrish, and her daughter, Executive Pastor, 1st Lady Mary A. Parrish. Mother Waiters will be truly missed by those who share the grief of her departure, but rejoice in knowing that she is now resting in peace with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Her loving words of encouragement, inspiration and guidance will be forever cherished. A Time to Celebrate Funeral services to celebrate the life of Mother Ethel Waiters will be Noon, Saturday, February 25, 2023, at the Sanctuary of Praise Tabernacle, 1311 South Main Street, Pleasantville, New Jersey, where friends may call from 10AM. Arrangements entrusted to Greenidge Funeral Homes, Atlantic City, where condolences may be left at www.greenidgefuneralhomes.com.