Mother Mary Magdalena Ervin Abbott, affectionately known as "Momma Abbott", entered the earth on April 18, 1933.  Mary was the 4 ^th child born to the late George Butler and the late Rosa Bell Dalton Ervin in Bethania, NC.  With her arms extended to the Heavens while praising God, Mother Abbott transitioned from earth to Glory on February 21, 2023.

She was a graduate of the 1 ^st graduating class of the new Carver High School in 1951. She attended Queens College, Queens, NY.  Mother Abbott retired from Forsyth Memorial Hospital as a Nurse Aide.

Mother Abbott loved her 7 children, 7 grands, and extended family.  She loved to cook and bake.  People remembered her for her delicious pound cake, homemade chicken salad, pinto beans, and cornbread. She loved to have people come over to fellowship while eating at her kitchen table. She loved to sing, and her soprano voice could rise to great heights.  She was a gifted writer of songs and poems inspired by the Holy Spirit.  She published a book of original poems.  Mother Abbott loved clothes, especially beautiful hats of color.  She was truly a fashionista.  She celebrated every occasion and non-occasion because she believed in celebrating life to its fullest.  She loved taking pictures and said that "pictures tell stories".  Mother Abbott loved to laugh and have fun.  She was a good prankster.  After her prank, she would say, "I was just having fun!"  Her favorite place to eat was Coronet Seafood Restaurant in Rural Hall, NC.

She was John 3:16 personified. She operated in the Agape love.  She loved talk about Jesus.  You would often hear her say, "we're just happy, happy, happy."  There was not a person that she encountered who could not feel and know her genuine love.  She had a God-given endless capacity to love. She knew how to make you feel special. She moved by the Spirit and would call or visit as God directed her.

At age 30, Mother Abbott accepted her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and was baptized and filled with the Holy Ghost and fire.

She joined SPWOC in 1984 under the leadership of Bishop RK and Mother Mildred Hash.  She was instrumental in early morning and noon day prayer.  She remained a faithful, loyal, and committed member as the pastorate transition to Bishop Dr. James C. Hash, Sr. and Lady Joyce M. Hash.  Mother Abbott had a special love for the Hash Family and even more for her beloved pastors, Bishop JC Hash and Lady Joyce.  Mother Abbott had an unshakable love and respect for Bishop JC Hash, Sr. She believed and knew that Bishop JC Hash, Sr. heard from God.  Many of Bishop Hash's sermons would inspire Momma Abbott to sing a song fresh from the throne of God. Lady Joyce Hash was Momma Abbott's "Sweet Joy Bell". Momma Abbott and Lady Joyce Hash had a special love language.  They had a heart connection like that of a newborn when placed on the chest of the mother to feel and hear the rhythm of mom's heartbeat.  Cherie (Arthur), James, Jr. (Melinda), Virginia (Bryan) and little Mia (Jayson) became her grandchildren.

She lived a life of prayer and faith in the Word of God.  Can't you hear her say "just do the Word, just do the Word!! Hit your flesh and do the Word! Pray more and talk to God, children."

She taught and developed the SPWOC Inner Healing Class.  She was a strong prayer leader.  She ministered special music and was a member of the Sanctuary Choir, Lillie Johnson Missionary Society, and the SPWOC Mother's Board. Her jewel was the Effectual Prayer Group. She was a member of Winston-Salem Women's Aglow Fellowship, president of the Christian Women Spiritual Birthday Club, and had many other accomplishments.

Mother Abbott was an evangelist and missionary to the world having traveled to England, Berlin, Germany to minister behind "the Iron Curtain", Israel and the Bahamas, as well as across the United States.  She had a special compassion for the lost souls in her neighborhood.  She was known to stop to talk and pray for the young people.

Mother Abbott was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Jakay Ervin, Sr., Wilson Erving, and Jimmy Valentine; her sisters, Elizabeth Valentine and Marie Mitchell; and her loving Goddaughter, Margaret M. Brown.

She leaves to celebrate her life and legacy her children, Sylvia Matthews, Cynthia (Larry) Wright, Conway Abbott, Constance (Robert) Caldwell, Clauzelle Abbott, and Chelsea (Michael) Griffith all of Winston-Salem, NC, Oliver (Mary) Abbott, Jr. of San Antonio, TX, Charlie Ray (Cossundra) Floyd, Beverly (Ron) Williams, and NC Rep. Amber M. Baker, PHD; her last surviving sibling-her older brother, Joseph Franklin Ervin of the city; her brother-in-law, Bobby (Barbara) Abbott of Clinton, MD; sisters-in-law, Minnie Ervin, Reba Galloway, and Irene Douthit all of the city, Delores Abbott and Faye Abbott of Maryland; her grandchildren, Tawanda Matthews Wells, Cameo Abbott, Clinton Abbott, Oliver III (Jackie) Abbott of Columbia, SC, LaRon (Brooke) Wilson of Richmond, VA, Ian and Olivia Abbott of Virginia, Hilbert (Carol) Brown, Donna (Robert) Roane, Michael (Sage) Griffith of Anaheim, CA, Bryan (Helen) Watters, Glenda (Trey) Cook, and Jason Caldwell; great-grandchildren, Matthew Stephens, Sean Wells, Jr., Chris Fulton-Abbott, Aaron Wells, Cameron and Noah Abbott, Micah Wilson, Deshjna "her baby Nikole" Brown, Bradley, Jayden, and Jackson Brown; precious great-great-grandson, Da'Siah Brown; her best and lifelong friend since 7 ^th grade whom she loved dearly, Mother Jessie S. Mason – they were so connected that Mother Mason found her sister Mary the house on Machine Street, they could now walk across the street to fellowship, cook, sing, laugh, and talk about the goodness of Jesus together; her extended family, Vester Porter, Jim, Sr. and Courtney Kluttz and sons, Jim, Jr. (Cameron), Nathaniel (Alixe), and Lawson (Rebecca) and Klutzz grandchildren: Emerson, Whitt, Liza, Grace and her loving adopted daughter, Veola Watkins and children: Cornell Wright, Cynthia Carter-Jackson, Carolyn Wright, and a host of loving nieces, nephews, cousins, special friends, and her numerous spiritual children who called her "mother" of which it would be impossible to name.

A viewing will be held from 1:00pm until 5:00pm Friday, March 3, 2023 at Russell Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be held at 12noon Saturday, March 4, 2023 at St. Peter's Church and World Outreach Center with Bishop James C. Hash, Sr. officiating.  Entombment will follow in Piedmont Memorial Gardens. The family visitation will be held from 11:00am until 12noon on Saturday at the Church.