Marie (McBride) Lyons

“When the perils of earthly life cause the material body to succumb, the grace and glory of an omnipotent and omniscient God embraces the soul and gives it an eternal resting place of peace.”

Marie McBride Lyons was born on December 25, 1928 in Timmonsville, South Carolina. God called her home on February 1, 2020. She was the daughter of the late Mr. John McBride and Mrs. Maggie Sumter McBride-McFadden. Marie married Harold A. (Tony) Lyons in 1955. To this union, three children were born.

Marie accepted Christ at an early age. She was baptized at New Zion #1 Baptist Church in Sardis, South Carolina where her walk with the Lord began. After relocating to Georgia, she made First African Baptist Church her church home, now two congregations: Original First African Baptist Church & Historical First African Baptist Church. She served at both in several capacities: Senior Choir, Willing Workers’, Pastor’s Aide, Mission Department, and Mother Board.

Marie was a graduate of Timmonsville High School then continued her academic pursuits at South Carolina State College earning a Bachelor of Science in Education and Master of Early Elementary Education. Marie began her career as a lifelong educator in South Carolina. She later moved to Statesboro, Georgia where she taught in multiple Bulloch County Schools. She retired from Nevils Elementary after 28 years of compassionate service.

In addition to teaching, she was a successful entrepreneur and active in her Georgia and South Carolina communities.  She was well respected and highly regarded for her passion for helping children, the elderly, and those in need. Her spirit of love and generosity touched so many lives. In her leisure, she enjoyed traveling, visiting with family and friends, gardening, and completing home improvement projects. 

She was affiliated with a number of organizations and honored for her service: OES, Cape Jessamine Chapter #86, former President of the Tri-County Negro Business and Professional Women’s Club, NAACP (Lifetime Member), Senior Women’s Department of Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Association, Rain or Shine Club, Retired Teachers’ Association, 2008 MLK Day Parade Grand Marshall, and Humanitarian Award for Outstanding Community Service Recipient, to name a few.

She is preceded in death by her daughter, Georgenia L. Whitaker; husband, Tony Lyons; sister, Martha A. Robinson; and brothers, Emmett McFadden and Harris McFadden; stepfather, Rev. Felder McFadden.

She leaves to cherish her memories: daughter, Antoinette (Larry) Ferell of Statesboro, GA, son, Carlton Lyons of St. Augustine, FL; six grandchildren, Gene Lee Jr., Mical Whitaker Jr., Matthew Ferell, Ishmela Lyons-Uko, Melanie Whitaker, and Autumn Lyons; five great-grandchildren, Messiah Smith, Christian Lee, Elijah Whitaker, Jamir Lee, Jazzaniah Whitaker, Malcolm Lee, Jalaya Lee, and Amari Ferell; six sisters, Inez Montgomery of Charleston, SC, Eliza Washington of Washington, DC, Mary Edna (John) Green of Detroit, MI, Edell Greene of Perth Amboy, NJ, and Dorothy Thompson of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; two brothers, Ray McBride of Columbia, SC, and Edward McFadden of Timmonsville, SC; and very special nephew, Carlton “Peto” (Opal) Johnson, London, England, UK.

Family and friends visitation will be from 6-7 pm on Friday, February 7, in the chapel of the Craig R. Tremble Funeral Home.

Celebration of Life Services will be held on Saturday, February 8, at 1 pm at the Original First African Baptist Church, 545 Westside Road, Statesboro, Ga., with the Rev. Christopher M. Culberth, pastor and Rev. James Howard, eulogist.

Internment services will be on Sunday, February 9, at the New Zion Baptist Church, 2826 Cale Yarbrough Hwy, Timmonsville, SC.

The family of Mrs. Marie M. Lyons has entrusted the care of their loved one to Craig R. Tremble Funeral Home, Statesboro Chapel.

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