Ulessie Landers, age 85, went to be with the Lord on Monday, March 20, 2017. She is preceded in death by her father, Tom Banks; mother, Mandy Banks; sisters, Annie Ruth Browning, Jesse Ruth Gex, Grace Allen Banks, Jessie Dell Banks and Aver Lee Aaron.

She is survived by her children, Glenda Spearman, BeLonyddria Morton, Winder Jean (Laurence) Morgan, Ellison Henry Landers, Jr., all of Dayton, OH; siblings, Marque Ree James, Udotris Godley, Tommy Banks, Ella Mae Williams, Claudell Banks; 18 grandchildren; 44 great grandchildren; and 3 great-great grandchildren.

Mother Ulessie came to know Christ at 21 years of age, by being told she should attend church at Austin Temple C.O.G.I.C. in Magnolia, Arkansas. While being saved and filled with the Holy Ghost, life’s journey into God’s work became her life. She taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School and was the head of the SunShine Band Choir. She was inspired by God to write plays and the performance of one beloved story of the three Hebrew children among other stories. She wrote songs, such as the “ABC Song”. She taught her children to sing, as well as teaching them to pray. She taught her children to pray and took all 4 of them to prayer services, shut-ins as well as fasting with them. She began to teach everyone she encountered the love of God. She came to Dayton, OH in 1961 and her spiritual walk continued. There is so much more that can be said and written about this woman of God. Knowing her, she would say, “it is not about me; it’s God through Christ Jesus, that does all things….Give Him the praise!”

Let the church say Amen; God has spoken.