Mother Bennie Lee (Sterling) Newkirk was born in Randolph County, Georgia on May 23, 1923, to Ben and Anna Starling.
She accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized in Georgia. Mother Newkirk attended school in Randolph County and graduated from Randolph High School. After graduation, she moved to New Jersey to live with her grandmother and Aunt Lucy. Because of her love for Christ and she did not want to be idle, she continued her work for the Lord and united immediately with the Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church in 1943.
Also, in 1943, she met a handsome young man, named, Norwood Newkirk. After two years of courting, Deacon Norwood Newkirk and Bennie Lee Starling were united in holy matrimony at Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church on July 10, 1945. To their union, three children were born.
She was employed and retired from Hilton Manufacturing Company, where she was a Seamstress. She was a member of Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America Local 169. After retirement, she joined the bowling league and was known as the "Terminator."
Mother Newkirk loved the Lord and enjoyed working for the uplifting of His kingdom. She was a devoted and faithful member of Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church since 1943. In 1949, she was the first president of the Emergency Choir, where she served as president for over 50 years. Mother Newkirk loved spreading the Word of God, she was a Sunday School teacher, teaching the Junior Class for over 65 years. She was the assistant Sunday School Superintendent, a member of the B.T.U, a member of the Missionary Society, a member of the Flower Club and the Chairperson of the Women's Department. Also, she was the coordinator of the Noon Day Bible Study. In 2005, the late Reverend Milton A. Byrd made her one of the mothers of the church.
Even though Mother Newkirk worked diligently with the Emergency Choir and other ministries within the church, she was a devoted and loving wife, mother and grandmother. Mother Newkirk could always be found at her kitchen table reading her Word. She would make her grandchildren, nieces and nephews read a verse and an entire chapter of the Bible. She was the Matriarch of the family and enjoyed spending time with her sisters and brothers. Mother Newkirk was more than their sister; she was also their mother, a caring person with a giving heart. Always giving them wisdom, advice and sharing God's Word.
Early Sunday morning, September 18, 2016, Mother Newkirk, surround by her family went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to a land of "No More"; no more pain, no more trials and tribulations of this world.
She is preceded in death by husband, Norwood Newkirk in 2012; parents; Ben and Anna Starling, three brothers and one sister.
Mother Newkirk, also known as, Ma, Grandma, Sista, Aunt Sista will be cherished by her loving children: Jacqueline (Daniel) Dawson of North Carolina, Anthony (Betty) Newkirk of New York and Norwood (Susan) Newkirk of New Jersey; ten grandchildren: Dana Ross, H. Christopher (MaKesha) Clark, Keisha Newkirk, Jennifer Clark, Anthony (Amanda) Newkirk, Allisha Brizant, Yolanda (Tyrone) Seabrooks, Lauren (Shawn) Reeves and Wendy Singletary; eleven great grandchildren: Maurice Newkirk, Rachelle D. Ross, Sanaya and Isaiah Clark, Connor and Kyle Newkirk, Sole' Barber, Taylor Reaves and Sydney Seabrooks, Bryce Hutchinson and Ethan Seabrooks; one great-great-grandchild: Amiyah D. Newkirk; siblings: Eddie "Dutch" Wilson, Richard (Barbara) Starling, Ethel Thomas, Lula (Curlie) Burkes, Otis (Sarah) Starling, Marian Brown and Levonia (Ronald) Coleman; friends: Melissa Kilgore and Eva Hodges; and many special nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.
She accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized in Georgia. Mother Newkirk attended school in Randolph County and graduated from Randolph High School. After graduation, she moved to New Jersey to live with her grandmother and Aunt Lucy. Because of her love for Christ and she did not want to be idle, she continued her work for the Lord and united immediately with the Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church in 1943.
Also, in 1943, she met a handsome young man, named, Norwood Newkirk. After two years of courting, Deacon Norwood Newkirk and Bennie Lee Starling were united in holy matrimony at Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church on July 10, 1945. To their union, three children were born.
She was employed and retired from Hilton Manufacturing Company, where she was a Seamstress. She was a member of Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America Local 169. After retirement, she joined the bowling league and was known as the "Terminator."
Mother Newkirk loved the Lord and enjoyed working for the uplifting of His kingdom. She was a devoted and faithful member of Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church since 1943. In 1949, she was the first president of the Emergency Choir, where she served as president for over 50 years. Mother Newkirk loved spreading the Word of God, she was a Sunday School teacher, teaching the Junior Class for over 65 years. She was the assistant Sunday School Superintendent, a member of the B.T.U, a member of the Missionary Society, a member of the Flower Club and the Chairperson of the Women's Department. Also, she was the coordinator of the Noon Day Bible Study. In 2005, the late Reverend Milton A. Byrd made her one of the mothers of the church.
Even though Mother Newkirk worked diligently with the Emergency Choir and other ministries within the church, she was a devoted and loving wife, mother and grandmother. Mother Newkirk could always be found at her kitchen table reading her Word. She would make her grandchildren, nieces and nephews read a verse and an entire chapter of the Bible. She was the Matriarch of the family and enjoyed spending time with her sisters and brothers. Mother Newkirk was more than their sister; she was also their mother, a caring person with a giving heart. Always giving them wisdom, advice and sharing God's Word.
Early Sunday morning, September 18, 2016, Mother Newkirk, surround by her family went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to a land of "No More"; no more pain, no more trials and tribulations of this world.
She is preceded in death by husband, Norwood Newkirk in 2012; parents; Ben and Anna Starling, three brothers and one sister.
Mother Newkirk, also known as, Ma, Grandma, Sista, Aunt Sista will be cherished by her loving children: Jacqueline (Daniel) Dawson of North Carolina, Anthony (Betty) Newkirk of New York and Norwood (Susan) Newkirk of New Jersey; ten grandchildren: Dana Ross, H. Christopher (MaKesha) Clark, Keisha Newkirk, Jennifer Clark, Anthony (Amanda) Newkirk, Allisha Brizant, Yolanda (Tyrone) Seabrooks, Lauren (Shawn) Reeves and Wendy Singletary; eleven great grandchildren: Maurice Newkirk, Rachelle D. Ross, Sanaya and Isaiah Clark, Connor and Kyle Newkirk, Sole' Barber, Taylor Reaves and Sydney Seabrooks, Bryce Hutchinson and Ethan Seabrooks; one great-great-grandchild: Amiyah D. Newkirk; siblings: Eddie "Dutch" Wilson, Richard (Barbara) Starling, Ethel Thomas, Lula (Curlie) Burkes, Otis (Sarah) Starling, Marian Brown and Levonia (Ronald) Coleman; friends: Melissa Kilgore and Eva Hodges; and many special nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.
Mother Bennie Lee (Sterling) Newkirk was born in Randolph County, Georgia on May 23, 1923, to Ben and Anna Starling.
She accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized in Georgia. Mother Newkirk attended school in Randolph County and graduated from Randolph High School. After graduation, she moved to New Jersey to live with her grandmother and Aunt Lucy. Because of her love for Christ and she did not want to be idle, she continued her work for the Lord and united immediately with the Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church in 1943.
Also, in 1943, she met a handsome young man, named, Norwood Newkirk. After two years of courting, Deacon Norwood Newkirk and Bennie Lee Starling were united in holy matrimony at Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church on July 10, 1945. To their union, three children were born.
She was employed and retired from Hilton Manufacturing Company, where she was a Seamstress. She was a member of Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America Local 169. After retirement, she joined the bowling league and was known as the "Terminator."
Mother Newkirk loved the Lord and enjoyed working for the uplifting of His kingdom. She was a devoted and faithful member of Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church since 1943. In 1949, she was the first president of the Emergency Choir, where she served as president for over 50 years. Mother Newkirk loved spreading the Word of God, she was a Sunday School teacher, teaching the Junior Class for over 65 years. She was the assistant Sunday School Superintendent, a member of the B.T.U, a member of the Missionary Society, a member of the Flower Club and the Chairperson of the Women's Department. Also, she was the coordinator of the Noon Day Bible Study. In 2005, the late Reverend Milton A. Byrd made her one of the mothers of the church.
Even though Mother Newkirk worked diligently with the Emergency Choir and other ministries within the church, she was a devoted and loving wife, mother and grandmother. Mother Newkirk could always be found at her kitchen table reading her Word. She would make her grandchildren, nieces and nephews read a verse and an entire chapter of the Bible. She was the Matriarch of the family and enjoyed spending time with her sisters and brothers. Mother Newkirk was more than their sister; she was also their mother, a caring person with a giving heart. Always giving them wisdom, advice and sharing God's Word.
Early Sunday morning, September 18, 2016, Mother Newkirk, surround by her family went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to a land of "No More"; no more pain, no more trials and tribulations of this world.
She is preceded in death by husband, Norwood Newkirk in 2012; parents; Ben and Anna Starling, three brothers and one sister.
Mother Newkirk, also known as, Ma, Grandma, Sista, Aunt Sista will be cherished by her loving children: Jacqueline (Daniel) Dawson of North Carolina, Anthony (Betty) Newkirk of New York and Norwood (Susan) Newkirk of New Jersey; ten grandchildren: Dana Ross, H. Christopher (MaKesha) Clark, Keisha Newkirk, Jennifer Clark, Anthony (Amanda) Newkirk, Allisha Brizant, Yolanda (Tyrone) Seabrooks, Lauren (Shawn) Reeves and Wendy Singletary; eleven great grandchildren: Maurice Newkirk, Rachelle D. Ross, Sanaya and Isaiah Clark, Connor and Kyle Newkirk, Sole' Barber, Taylor Reaves and Sydney Seabrooks, Bryce Hutchinson and Ethan Seabrooks; one great-great-grandchild: Amiyah D. Newkirk; siblings: Eddie "Dutch" Wilson, Richard (Barbara) Starling, Ethel Thomas, Lula (Curlie) Burkes, Otis (Sarah) Starling, Marian Brown and Levonia (Ronald) Coleman; friends: Melissa Kilgore and Eva Hodges; and many special nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.
She accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized in Georgia. Mother Newkirk attended school in Randolph County and graduated from Randolph High School. After graduation, she moved to New Jersey to live with her grandmother and Aunt Lucy. Because of her love for Christ and she did not want to be idle, she continued her work for the Lord and united immediately with the Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church in 1943.
Also, in 1943, she met a handsome young man, named, Norwood Newkirk. After two years of courting, Deacon Norwood Newkirk and Bennie Lee Starling were united in holy matrimony at Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church on July 10, 1945. To their union, three children were born.
She was employed and retired from Hilton Manufacturing Company, where she was a Seamstress. She was a member of Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America Local 169. After retirement, she joined the bowling league and was known as the "Terminator."
Mother Newkirk loved the Lord and enjoyed working for the uplifting of His kingdom. She was a devoted and faithful member of Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church since 1943. In 1949, she was the first president of the Emergency Choir, where she served as president for over 50 years. Mother Newkirk loved spreading the Word of God, she was a Sunday School teacher, teaching the Junior Class for over 65 years. She was the assistant Sunday School Superintendent, a member of the B.T.U, a member of the Missionary Society, a member of the Flower Club and the Chairperson of the Women's Department. Also, she was the coordinator of the Noon Day Bible Study. In 2005, the late Reverend Milton A. Byrd made her one of the mothers of the church.
Even though Mother Newkirk worked diligently with the Emergency Choir and other ministries within the church, she was a devoted and loving wife, mother and grandmother. Mother Newkirk could always be found at her kitchen table reading her Word. She would make her grandchildren, nieces and nephews read a verse and an entire chapter of the Bible. She was the Matriarch of the family and enjoyed spending time with her sisters and brothers. Mother Newkirk was more than their sister; she was also their mother, a caring person with a giving heart. Always giving them wisdom, advice and sharing God's Word.
Early Sunday morning, September 18, 2016, Mother Newkirk, surround by her family went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to a land of "No More"; no more pain, no more trials and tribulations of this world.
She is preceded in death by husband, Norwood Newkirk in 2012; parents; Ben and Anna Starling, three brothers and one sister.
Mother Newkirk, also known as, Ma, Grandma, Sista, Aunt Sista will be cherished by her loving children: Jacqueline (Daniel) Dawson of North Carolina, Anthony (Betty) Newkirk of New York and Norwood (Susan) Newkirk of New Jersey; ten grandchildren: Dana Ross, H. Christopher (MaKesha) Clark, Keisha Newkirk, Jennifer Clark, Anthony (Amanda) Newkirk, Allisha Brizant, Yolanda (Tyrone) Seabrooks, Lauren (Shawn) Reeves and Wendy Singletary; eleven great grandchildren: Maurice Newkirk, Rachelle D. Ross, Sanaya and Isaiah Clark, Connor and Kyle Newkirk, Sole' Barber, Taylor Reaves and Sydney Seabrooks, Bryce Hutchinson and Ethan Seabrooks; one great-great-grandchild: Amiyah D. Newkirk; siblings: Eddie "Dutch" Wilson, Richard (Barbara) Starling, Ethel Thomas, Lula (Curlie) Burkes, Otis (Sarah) Starling, Marian Brown and Levonia (Ronald) Coleman; friends: Melissa Kilgore and Eva Hodges; and many special nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.
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