Proverbs 31:25-27

"Strength and honor are her clothing: She is confident about the future. Her mouth is full of wisdom: kindly teaching is on her tongue.  She is vigilant over the activities of her household: she doesn't eat the food of laziness."

Tuesday, March 12, 2024, Mrs. Maybelle Pendergrass Steele took the Lord's hand surrounded by her loving husband, daughter, grandchildren, and siblings as she was guided to her final resting place, her heavenly home.  Maybelle was born March 25, 1951 to the late Ms. Nedral Pendergrass Imes and Mr. Thomas Thelms in Clarendon, SC. She was the eldest of 6.

A graduate of Atkins High School 'Class of 69', Maybelle wasted no time earning an AAS degree in business administration at Forsyth Community College in 1971.  Always the over achiever she later went on to obtain her degree in accounting from High Point University, graduating top of her class with honors in 2004.  An employee of the State of North Carolina, Maybelle steadily led a successful career working for Pilot Freight Carriers, Center Point Human Services, and Forsyth County Probation.  Maybelle has been a 'Gold Star Member' of First Baptist Church for 50 years.  She was committed to contributing to her church family and her community as a whole. She was a member of the First Baptist Church choir, political awareness community, food/beverage team, and a vacation bible school volunteer.  In her prime Maybelle was an accomplished competitive bowler, traveling and competing in multiple tournaments and earning a plethora of trophies as a high scorer.  A great appreciator of the Arts, she served on the board of directors at the 'Stained Glass Playhouse' as well as working as a performer in numerous productions managing many shows in which she performed.  Hence her earning the title 'Lil energizer bunny' she kept going and going.

Maybelle enjoyed keeping herself busy; never sitting still. She was a proud home chef, lovingly preparing traditional family recipes and adoring the praise she received.  Baking was her specialty (those cakes will be missed by many!) A proud grandmother who insisted on being a strong, consistent, supportive female presence in her granddaughters' lives.  She took pride in their education and was a frequent volunteer at The Arts Based School as well as UNCSA School of Arts.  Her most treasured moments were times spent with her family, especially her siblings, fondly sharing memories, dancing to her favorite Motown tunes, and just simply treasuring the moments; enveloped with family love and positivity. She relished the good times, and this is where she found true happiness.

A cancer survivor who overcame many obstacles in life yet maintained a positive outlook always, Maybelle may have been small in stature yet stoic in nature.  Dainty on the outside but carried inside her an unforgivingly willful spirit, forever surprising those around her with her ability to juggle so many tasks; at times making it seem effortless.  Always smiling, arms open and ready to take on any family of friends' obstacles as if they were her own.  She never met a stranger and was a fast friend to all she encountered.  In fact, if you left her alone with a stranger for 5 minutes, you'd come back and they would be holding her hand and sharing life stories!  She surpassed normal expectations by giving over 150%; many times forgetting to put herself first.  A forever people pleaser who managed to never make a person feel judged and always feel heard; she was the ultimate and constant caretaker.

In addition to her dear mother who was her very best friend, Maybelle was preceded in death by her sister, Tewaukee Gregory.

Her memories will be cherished by her husband of 50 years, Mr. Thomas Steele, Jr.; devoted daughter, Krishma Chere Steele; granddaughters, Jolie Paige Steele and Riley Scotland Steele Peterson; sister, Jennifer Pringle-Smith (Arthur); brothers, Rodney Gregory, Michael (Cheryl) Gregory, Sr. and Nokomis (Chere) Gregory, Sr.; nieces, Brandi Pringle, Janee Gergory and Latoneia Bilal; nephews, Gerard Gregory, Michael Gregory, Jr., Nokomis (Sara) Gregory, Jr., Malachi Gregory, Malcom Gregory, Christopher Jordan and Louis (Karena) Steele all of Winston-Salem, NC; an uncle-in-law, Mr. Melvin Hampton; special mention to Ted and Pateah (The East Family), Karen Archie, Cassius Adams, The Stained Glass Playhouse Team, and countless family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the FBC Scholarship Fund or St. Jude's Hospital.

A viewing will be held from 2:00pm until 6:00pm Monday, March 18, 2024 at Russell Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be held at 11:30am Tuesday, March 19, 2024 at First Baptist Church-Highland Ave. Entombment will follow in Gardens of Memory, Walkertown, NC. The family visitation will be held from 11:00am until 11:30am on Tuesday at the Church.