First Lady Mother Mary Latham Keyes

Mrs. Mary Latham Keyes of Chocowinity, N.C., entered into eternal rest on December 5, 2020.

First Lady Mother Mary Latham Keyes, a resident of Chocowinity NC was called to her heavenly home on Saturday December 5, 2020.
Mary was born on October 20, 1946 to the late Joanna and James Latham Sr. in Washington NC. Mary attended and graduated from P.S. Jones High in Wash- ington NC. Later Mary started in the workforce where she was employed at National Spinning and Hamilton Beach, where she worked as an assembly worker.
When Mary was 12 years of age while living on Bry- ant’s Avenue she met the love of her life, Jesse Keyes Sr. who she also called “Dol”. Mary and Jesse married on December 22, 1966. Their union of 53 years was blessed with eight wonderful children.
A few years later Mary accepted the Lord Jesus as her savior at Keysville Church under the leadership of
Pastor Hawkins. It wasn’t long after that Jesse accepted Christ in his life as well. They both later joined Burning Bush under the leadership of Bishop Boyd. Soon after Jesse branched off and started his own church, Little Rock Holiness Church in Blounts Creek NC and then later moved to Chocowinity. This is where Jesse became Pastor Jesse Keyes and Mary became the First Lady. Mary served on the Mother Board, was the church Secretary and Treasurer and sang in the choir. First Lady Mother Mary ‘s favorite saying was “To God Be The Glory.” No matter what, First Lady always had a smile on her face and was not ashamed to tell the goodness of the Lord. First Lady was also the only one who knew how to keep Pastor Keyes in line in and out of the church.
First Lady Mother Mary Keyes loved to cook, spend time with her family and her loving husband. Wherever you saw “Dol” you saw Mary, they were two peas in a pod. Almost nightly Mary and Jesse would enjoy eating freshly cooked popcorn, watch tv and enjoy each oth- er’s company. First Lady was not just a Mother to her
kids and a Mother of the church, she showed her Motherly love to anyone she was in contact with. Her smile was contagious, her love would spread far and wide and she told you what you needed to hear and not what you wanted to hear.
First Lady Mother Mary Keyes leaves to cherish her memories her dear husband Pastor Jesse Keyes Sr, her children Jesse Keyes Jr (Amanda) of Wendell, NC, T-shara Dixon (Rufus) of Greenville, NC, Malcolm Keyes (Missy) of Covington, GA, Devale Keyes (Nikki) of Greenville, Kendrick Keyes (Shemeka) of Washing- ton, Stephanie Keyes (friend Nicholas Gardner) of Greenville and her baby Schreika Stewart (Kris) of Greenville. Her grandchildren Stephon Dixon, Christo- pher Keyes, Kaylea Keyes, JaMichael Keyes, Aalyiah Gardner, Summer Stewart, Kayden Keyes, Tymeek Cobb, Jayamiah Johnson, and Kahlil Rogers, one brother Lawrence Latham (Ellen) of Washington NC,
one sister Loria Brown of Brooklyn, NY and a host of brother-in-laws, sister-in-laws, nieces, nephews, and other family and friends. First Lady was preceded in death by her daughter Angela Keyes, her granddaugh- ter Makaysia Keyes, her sisters Margie Latham, Joanna Ward and Renner Harding, her brothers James Latham Jr, Joe Marsha

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