Mrs. Sweet Marie Moses

April 6, 1927 - October 24, 2014

SWEET MARIE ROBINSON MOSES, was the tenth offspring, of the late John Shed and Henrietta Moorman Robinson on April 6, 1927 in Chatham, Virginia, of Pittsylvania County, where she was also raised and educated. The last survivor of fourteen children, Sweet Marie was preceded in death by her siblings, Emma Pearl, Ruby, Lucille, Horace, Jim, Willie Paul, Dorothy, Samuel, Edgareen, Lassie, Virginia, Cornelius and Benjamin. In pursuit of her dreams, Sweet Marie left Pittsylvania County as a teenager. She first moved to and found work in New York, NY, later she moved to Philadelphia, PA. and then to Newport News, VA. where she met the late Greenfair Moses, Jr, the man she would later marry. They relocated to his hometown, Marion, SC and later to the Washington area, settling in Alexandria, Virginia. From this union came six children: Greenfair III, Robert Andrew, Bonita Elaine, Evelyn A, Beverly Ann and Lettie Ester. Sweet Marie was saved and filled with the Holy Spirit in 1952 during a Prayer Service at Singletary A.M.E. Church, in Marion, SC. She made it her lifelong ministry to serve GOD , family and anyone that she could help. Although a quiet woman in character, Sweet Marie had a thirst for knowledge and exhibited wisdom to all who knew her. She was an avid reader and loved to travel to new places. One of her most memorable adventures was her trip to the Holy Land of Israel. While in Israel, she was baptized in the River Jordan. As a young wife, she was a home maker and later worked as a housekeeper for several prominent families in the Alexandria area. At the age of 50, she re-entered school at the George Washington High School in Alexandria earning her GED and went to work in the Federal Government. She worked for many years at the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) in Springfield, VA. Upon her departure from NTIS, she was employed at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Headquarters in Washington, DC from which she retired. Her wit was never short, during her farewell luncheon at NTIS, when she made the following luncheon speech “As I say farewell, I wish to apologize to anyone whom I may have offended or hurt in any way. As for those of you who have offended or hurt me, please do not worry about it because I have already forgiven you”. Sweet Marie, fondly known as Mother Moses, faithfully served the body of Christ in many capacities. At the time of her transition, she was Vice President of the Missionary Department of Antioch Church of Christ, where she had been a member since 1952. She began under the leadership of the late Bishop Henry W. Roberts, followed by the late Elder George Thompson and finally, serving under District Elder Wayne Logan. In 1988, she took a leave of absence from Antioch Church, to join and support her nephew, Reverend Roland Harris, in the start-up of Truth Ministries in Alexandria, VA. While living in District Heights, MD. Mother Moses served as a member of the Gospel Ark Temple in Washington, DC, under the guidance of Bishop John Lamb and Bishop Joseph Showell. In recent years, she also conducted Tuesday Bible Study with the Agape Worldwide Ministries in Springfield, VA. under Pastor Renzall Fields. She enjoyed fellowship with many congregations, including Church of the Great Commission of Camp Springs, MD, the Seniors Ministry Annual 24 hour Prayer Service of Alfred Street Baptist, Alexandria, VA. Sweet Marie was a preacher in her own right, often invited to speak at local congregations. She was known for her testimonies of God's goodness and words of encouragement about God’s goodness. Out of her bosom came two ordained ministers, missionaries and a legacy of children and grandchildren that love the Lord. She was a nurturer who cared for the sick and shut-in. She often provided for the needs of the less fortunate, even purchasing clothing and food for those in need, often quietly behind the scene. She regularly called to check on people far and wide locally and nationally. Her family that they knew she would always come in times of need, even if no one else came. She continued to faithfully support her family and friends until she suffered a stroke on November 7, 2011. It was always her desire to attend the annual family reunions, no matter how far away. We are grateful that God granted her final wish to attend the 2014 Moorman-Price-Robinson Family Reunion in Virginia Beach on August 1—3. Sweet Marie was blessed to have shared a special relationship as an Aunt and as a Friend with all her 16 nieces and 16 nephews. She was so appreciative of all acts of love and respect shown to her by each. Sweet Marie will be greatly missed. She leaves to cherish her memory and celebrate her life for Christ: two sons, Greenfair Moses III (Julie) of Upper Marlboro, MD and Robert Andrew Moses of District Heights, MD; four daughters: Bonita (Jerome) Smith of Fort Washington, MD; Evelyn Ross of Alexandria, VA; Beverly Moses of Manassas, VA and Lettie (Neal) Carr of Glenn Dale, MD. She was a wonderful beloved grandmother to her grand-children as listed on her Garden page: 12 grand-children; 32 Great Grandchildren and 5 Great-Great Grandchildren. She also leaves one Brother-in-law: Rufus Moses (Louise) of Marion, SC, four Sisters-in-law: Ivory Moses of Charlotte, NC, Lottie Grant and Christa Davis of Marion, SC and Edna Patterson of Leesburg, FL; unnumbered host of nieces; nephews, beloved cousins and long-time friendship with her partner/travel mate, Mother Naomi Roberts, Mother Dorothy Harris, Mother Florine Henderson and many others.