It is with heavy hearts we rejoice that our dear sister in Christ and our congregation's matriarch, Maxine Amos, was called home to Him and her beloved Mac early in the evening on Sunday, July 13.

We ask that you keep her family & many friends in your prayers.

Until then, may the Holy Spirit comfort her family, friends, and us as we trust in the promise of the resurrection and the reunion of all believers.

Well done, thou good and faithful servant!

Rest in peace in the arms of God, Maxine.

The Wesley Pines Benevolent Care Fund

1000 Wesley Pines Dr.

Lumberton, NC 28358

The Amos Scholarship Fund at Wesley Pines

1000 Wesley Pines Dr.

Lumberton, NC 28358

Maxine Locklear Amos died early Sunday evening at Southeastern Hospital in Lumberton. Her obituary and a host of news stories will illuminate her many accomplishments and contributions to this community, but I won’t list them here. 

I want to write about my friend.

More than two decades ago, Maxine and several other ladies dragged me, almost but not quite kicking and screaming, to a meeting of the Women of the ELCA, and organization she loved, served, and championed. I serve the Conference and on the state Board because she supported and encouraged me to do so. She often spoke of how much the organization meant to her. 

She asked me many times if I would consider serving WELCA in our conference. It was tough to tell Maxine “No” when she asked you to do something. My usual answer was “Yes ma’am.” She asked because she knew whatever it was, you could do it, had the skills to do it, and would do it well. 

What I always found impressive about Maxine was the effortless way she had of seeing the potential in a person and urging you to fulfill it. Robert says, “She bugged you ‘til you did something about it!” 

Because she was herself a woman of action. She believed that if  you had a talent for something, you should use it. Do something with it, to serve God.

Maxine was a bold woman, and her boldness was manifested in service to others, speaking out against injustice, and loving the people around her. She didn’t back down from a position when she believed it was the right stand to take. 

She was a third-generation educator whose legacy includes the thousands of lives she touched in public schools as a counselor and coach. She always enjoyed my tales from the classroom. She told me once, your students will remember you, because they knew you loved them. I hope so.

Maxine talked often about “knowing who you are and whose you are.” 

She lived her life in humble gratitude to the God she loved and served so joyfully for all the years of her life. 

I believe that when all is said and done, Maxine’s calling was to love as Jesus loved. People talk a lot about love, but Maxine lived it. Maxine lived the love of Christ as she shared it will everyone she met. 

It was an honor to call her my friend. 

“Remember,” she would say at the end of every conversation we ever had, “Jesus loves you, and I do too.”  

Thank you, Maxine. I love you too.