Alease Pressley

Mother Alease James Pressley was born on November 22, 1924 on the "Mill Quarters" in Florence County, South Carolina. She was the 10th of 11 children of the late Dora and Evans James. Mother Pressley answered when God called home to rest on Thursday March 26, 2009.Mother Pressley began her education in the Florence County Public School System and later received her adult education degree in Baltimore City. Her affiliation with church had begun in the town of Timmonsville, SC where her grandmother, mother, and siblings were faithful members of Zion Temple Holiness Church. She was baptized in Jesus name and received the Holy Ghost as a young adult.Mother Pressley left her home town and established residency in Baltimore, Maryland, where she worked as a seamstress in an umbrella factory. During which time she met and married the late David "Sidney" Pressley, Sr. Manning, South Carolina. Together they raised nine children four daughters and five sons.Mother Pressley received formal training as a tailor and worked several years at Krause Uniform Company. Upon leaving Krause, she became a Licensed Day Care Provider until she retired. In her spare time, she enjoyed gardening and cooking- her specialties being homemade biscuits and sweet potato bread. In her senior years she was an avid Barack Obama supporter and CNN viewer. And throughout the years, she provided tender loving care to many nieces, nephews, godchildren, grandchildren and great grandchildren.For more than 50 years Mother Pressley was a devout member of Mt. Zion Apostolic Faith Church in Baltimore, Maryland. She was very active in all aspects of her church including adult Sunday school teacher; praise and worship leader; usher board; choir member; sick and shut-in committee; pastor's aide; and mother's board. Her pastor, Bishop Mangum, spoke highly of her saying she was one of the greatest and most outstanding mothers she could remember in all her 55 years in the ministry. Whenever there was something that needed to be done, Mother Pressley was there putting her hands to work. She brought her children and grand children to church and was always by her pastor's side. She always paid her tithes and offering monthly whether she came to church or not. When she could not attend, she would call someone every month to pick them up. Mother Pressley was sincere about her relationship with the Lord. She was truly a virtuous, godly, and faithful, Christian woman.She leaves to mourn four sons, Orion (Deloris James), Edward, Michael, and Ronnie; four daughters, Allidease (Bishop Robert Rich, Sr.), Brenda, Jean (Alvin Rawlings), and Valerie; twenty-five grandchildren; seventeen great- grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. One son, David "Sug" Pressley, Jr., preceded her in death.Mother Pressley was considered the "neighborhood mom" of many children. She was well known for her love of family, the Lord, and her willingness to extend a helping hand to others.

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Alease Pressley

November 22, 1924 - March 26, 2009