Irene Sellers Mrs. Chapman

Irene Carolyn Sellers Chapman was born on July 30, 1915 to the late Arnold Phillip and Lucy Woodburn Sellers. She went home to be with the Lord early Sunday Morning, January 11, 2015 from the Anson Health & Rehabilitation Center, formally Lillie Bennett Nursing Center. She met life head on by being raised on a B-farm in Chesterfield County, SC. She moved as a child to the Deep Creek Community of Anson County, NC where she attended school at West Deep Creek and completed the 4th Grade. She would later receive her BA (Born Again) degree and join West Deep Creek Missionary Baptist Church. She went back to help her Dad on the farm until later becoming an adult and moving up north to New York and working in the mills. After a period of time she moved back to Wadesboro, NC where she made history when she applied for work at the Anson Co. Sheriff's office and became the first African American to wear a police uniform in Anson Co. After marrying and having her daughter with many threats to her life she left the force and remembered helping her Mom who did work for the Little Family of Little Cotton Mill. She one day asked Mr. Charles Little for a job and became the first African American to ever work as an employee in any mill system in Anson County. She would later return to school at age 52 to receive her G.E.D. from Anson Technical Institute. There is a lot more that she contributed to the history of this County and State, but what she's most fond is of is what God did through her for His Kingdom. She was a true missionary who saw after the sick, participated in many fund raisers that built two churches, Cedar Creek Missionary Baptist Church and Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church, where she became a member as well, while helping many others ministries. She joined Word of Faith Ministries on Mother's Day 2008 where she became the Mother of the Church and remained faithful until her health gave way. She was truly one who believed everyone is God's child. She was devoted to her family and cared for and nurtured many other children in and around her community. Even though she faced many dangers, toils, tortures, and snares, she was faithful, never tiring, always positive! No matter what she was going through, when you asked her was she okay, her reply would always be, 'I'm fine!' She was preceded in death by her only child Ruth Mae Ledbetter, her Father and Mother, her siblings Arvell, Luther, Alonzo, Ann Liza, Evelyn. Now they're all back together. She leaves to carry on her legacy: her grandson/granddaughter Ivan & Angela; three great-grand's Marcel, Tasoni, and Natasha (Patrick); Eight great-great grand's JaShanti, Martaysia, Morgan, Shomari, Alex, Jr., Khamoni, Sahniyah, and Tahrez. Three special grand's Delephine, Anthony, and Jessica, as well as, many nephews, nieces, cousins, God-great grand's, saints, and friends! Funeral services will be 3:00pm Saturday, January 17, 2015 at Word of Faith Ministries in Morven. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.