Obituary of Mercy Lee Dawes

Mercy Lee Banks was born to the late Martha Smith and Luther Banks on November 13, 1923 in LaGrange, North Carolina. She was the 5th child of 6 children, and all her siblings preceded her in death. She was educated in the North Carolina public schools and left home at a early age when she got permission to work and help support her parents who were also caring for a grandson left motherless at birth. For many years she worked in domestic service starting at at Langley Field in Langley, Virginia where she worked on base for an Army Captain then to Ohio and eventually settling in Jamaica, Long Island New York. During her tenure in New York, she accepted Jesus as her personal savior and began to work in the church, first serving on the Usher Board; as a result, she began to work out her soul salvation unto the Lord with fear and trembling. Not only did she work to help her parents but also her siblings' families as the need arose as attested to by the many packages she sent them during this time. Mercy met and married the late Deacon Elijah B. Dawes on August 30, 1958. They moved to E. Riverton, NJ and began their union as husband and wife and resided in the current residence until her passing. They were married for 48 years. She continued her life ambition working for many families in this area, serving her church and community. She started the Neighborhood Circle prayer bandana May 1961 and joined Miller's Temple and Macedonia Baptist Church. She was diligent about her service to the Lord through home, hospital, and nursing home ministries and counseled to many and gained recognition from those she served as a missionary and evangelist and eventually, a Church Mother. Over the years Missionary Mercy Dawes made and maintained a host of relationships, acquaintances and friends within various churches in the community. Although she had no children, she became Mother to a host of spiritual daughters, sons, nieces and nephews and many called her Mom. She loved and cared for them all deeply. Her accomplishments are varied and wide and there is not enough time or space here to list them. She was a great support to the ministerial staff and encouraged all she encountered along with her Miller's Temple family. This mighty warrior of God was most humble in her service and leaves to cherish her memories and mourn her passing, the families of her siblings though departed, her sisters, Missionary Lillie M. Banks Wells Barnes, Frances Banks Bunch; her brothers, Jimmie Harvey Banks, Willie L. Banks and ClintonH. Banks; her godchildren, as well as her husband's dearly beloved grandchildren/families and her spiritual daughters and sons. We can't name each and every one but you know who you are. On Friday , October 30, 2015 Mother and Evangelist Mercy L. Dawes departed this life here on earth after a brief illness at the Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center. She was tired and ready to go home to be with God. We count ourselves privileged to be her family. We will always love and appreciate her life.