Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Edna Elizabeth Ijames Mason Allen, 101, died on Tuesday, April 21, 2020.

She lived a beautiful full life of faithful service to God, family, church and community for 101 years and 10 months.  Born in Davie County on June 6, 1918, she was the fourth of 7 children born to the late Elder Johnny and Columbia Studevent Ijames.

She started her Christian journey at an early age in the Clement Grove Church of God, 7th Day. She was educated in the Davie County School System in Mocksville, where she met and married the love of her life, the late Rev. Baxter Sherman Mason. They were married for 33 years and to this union were born three children Sylvester (died at birth), William S. Mason of Greensboro, and Columbia DeAnn Stanton of Waterford Works, N.J.

After working in New York for many years, Edna and  Baxter returned to North Carolina and purchased the old Mason homeplace in Mocksville.  Along with her husband, Edna became a lifelong member of Cedar Grove Baptist Church, where she is lovingly called Church Mother.

After the passing of Baxter in 1971, she married the late Rev. Ralph Q. Allen in 1981.

Some of her Christian ministry includes serving as First Lady at Boxwood Baptist Church, Old Smith Grove Baptist Church, Chestnut Grove Baptist Church, and Goodwill Baptist Church.  When age and health did not allow her to live alone, she resided with her children and worshipped under watch-care at New Bethel Baptist Church in High Point, and at Grant AME Church in Chesilhurst, N.J. She was an active member of the Eagle Network for the Widows sponsored by Graham Funeral Home in Mocksville.  She received a lifetime member plaque from the local NAACP in Mocksville, and years of service plaque from Davie County Agriculture Extension Service, where she served as treasurer; band booster president at William Penn High School for 3 years; member of the Best Yet Club at Cedar Grove Baptist in Mocksville for many years; president of the Cedar Grove Missionary Circle for 15 years; served as president of the Davie County Missionary Union, which was a part of the Woman’s Baptist Home and Foreign Mission Convention, District Three, Group Two, for 35 years; and was currently a member of the Scarlet Dames (Red Hatters) of Greensboro.                                                                                                                                                                                      

Survivors: a son, William S. (Mary) Mason of Greensboro; a daughter, Columbia  DeAnn Stanton (late William Stanton IV) Warterford Works; a brother, John Lester (Peggy) Ijames of Walnut Cove; 2 brothers-in-law, the Rev. John (Margaret) Mason and Peter (Irma) Mason, all of High Point; a sister-in-law, Nellie C. Ijames of Newton; 4 grandchildren, Pastor William Sherman (Stephanie) Mason II, Matthew Lewis, DeAnnett (Clyde) Cross, and Karma Mason; 6 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great-grandchildren; a Goddaughter, Angela Graham Robinson; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Public viewing took place on Saturday, April 25 at Peoples Funeral Home in High Point from 1-6 p.m. On Sunday, April 26, public viewing occurred at Cedar Grove Baptist Church in Mocksville from 1-3 p.m. A service followed in which remarks were given by the Rev. Dr. Marion Franks, pastor of Cedar Grove, and the Rev. William Sherman Mason II, pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church and grandson of Mrs. Allen.  Burial followed in the church cemetery.

Condolences: www.peoplesfuneralandcremation.com.

Memorials: charity of donor’s choice.