Mary Lizzie Elam

Mrs. Mary Lizzie Elam, 90, of Lakewood, NJ entered eternal rest on Monday, April 7, 2025 at Hackensack Meridian Health Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, NJ.

Mrs. Elam was born November 2, 1934 in Southhampton County, VA to the late Benjamin Parker and Hattie Sykes. She joined First Baptist Church in Franklin, VA, and would reconnect with her home church later in life. She received her early education in the schools of Southampton County and was a 1952 graduate of Hayden High School. She relocated to New York, then to New Jersey, where she met and married the late Andrew Claude Elam, Sr. in 1957; this union was blessed with three children. While residing in New Jersey, she joined Union Baptist Church in Orange. Mrs. Elam worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant for over 20 years at both White House Nursing Home in Orange, NJ and Clara Mass Hospital in Belleville, NJ. In her free time, she enjoyed traveling back to Franklin, VA to spend time with family.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her siblings, Carrie Lee Jones, Larrina Parker Jenkins, Benjamin Samuel Parker, Hester Melinda Parker, Johnnie Lou Parker Jenkins, and her niece raised as her sister, Christine Jones Myrick; and her brother, Charlie Parker, Sr.

She leaves to cherish her memory three children, Andrew C. Elam, Jr. (Sally), Fay V. Cooper (Shem, Sr.), and Sharlene D. Elam-Wade (Gratthan); five grandchildren, Christopher Cooper, Ashley Elam, Brandon Elam, Cody Cooper and Michael Alston; six great grandchildren; sister-in-law, Alice Parker, and a vast number of other loving relatives and caring friends.

Funeral services for Mrs. Mary Lizzie Elam will be conducted 11:00 A.M. Saturday, April 26, 2025 at the chapel of Giles-Harris Funeral Home, Chase City, VA. Burial will follow at Finneywood Baptist Church Cemetery, Chase City, VA. Public viewing will begin on Saturday from 10:00 until 10:45 A.M.

Arrangements are by Giles-Harris Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Chase City, VA.