Lula Mae Dyers

Mother Lula Mae McCaskill Dyers was born on December 12, 1913 in Bethune South Carolina, the oldest child of the late Reverend Daniel McCaskill and the Late Laura Beckham McCaskill. She departed this life on Wednesday, August 14, 2019 at Heritage Home of Florence, South Carolina. She attended the public schools in the community in her childhood years.

She was married to the late Will Dyers and to this union, three children were born, John Lee Dyers, Willie Dyers, Jr. and the late Nehemiah Dyers.

Mother Dyers was baptized at the age of 17 at Mill Creek Baptist Church, Bethune, South Carolina where she served until she moved her membership to Sandy Level Baptist Church. She served faithful as the Sunday School Teacher where she taught many students in the surrounding community and later served as Superintendent for over fifty years. She was a choir leader, served as a missionary member, and many other leadership roles at Sandy Level.

Mother Dyers was employed at Carver Elementary School and Camden Military as a cook, she did various domestic works.

Mother Dyers was one of the charter members of Richmond Chapter Number 176, Order of Eastern Stars, Prince Hall in 1944 where she served as the Worthy Matron for over 50 years. She was a member of the Eastern Stars for over 75 years. She served faithful until her health declined. Mother Dyers was one of the founders of the Bethune Community Center.

Mother Dyers was very active in Voter Registration for the Bethune Area. Mother Dyers was active in the Mt. Moriah Association and Singing Convention in her early years.

Mother Dyers received numerous awards for her dedicated services to Bethune and surrounding areas. She was better known around Bethune as “GRANDMA”.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Reverend Daniel and Laura Beckham McCaskill; one sister, Rosa Lee Jackson; five brothers, John Henry, Willie, Corley, James Allen and Joseph; one grandson, Johnnie Ballard; one great-grandson, Cheron Ballard.

She leaves to cherish memories: two sons – John (Blanche) Dyers of Federal Way, Washington and Apostle Willie (Helen) Dyers of Bethune, South Carolina; one brother, Benjamin J. McCaskill; four grandchildren – Sean Dyers of Seattle, Washington, Yolande Dyers of Tacoma, Washington, Bernard (Amy) Dyers of Bremerton, Washington and Stephanie Dyers of Camden, South Carolina; five great-grandchildren – Chantel Warren of Seattle, Washington, Chris Ballard of Hawaii, Yelena (Brandon) Faraday of Tacoma, Washington, Quentin Dyers of Cheney, Washington and Courtney Dyers of Montana; a special nephew Nathaniel McCaskill of Augusta, Georgia; six great-great-children and three great-great-great-grandchildren, host of nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends throughout the community.