On Thursday morning, April 25, 2024, an angel came down to escort Lillie Mae Bowens Minor, to her new eternal address. GOD opened his arms to welcome her to her heavenly home. Lillie (the family called her NET) was born on July 8, 1933, to her now deceased parents Rev. Essex Bowens, Sr. and Margaret Ann (McIntyre) Bowens in Nash County, North Carolina.

Lillie was the third of six daughters born into a loving family of 13 children. Her father often referred to her as one of his "songbirds". In his own words, he described her like this: "she loved to sing and would sing her way out of trouble. She was a prissy thing (always combing her hair) and she could play the piano too. Even though she never took lessons, she could play like Ray Charles. Her gift was music".

Lillie and her sisters were well known for singing at various churches and civic programs in the North Carolina area. The "BOWENS SISTERS" would sing on the gospel radio broadcast on Sunday morning called the "Gospel Hour". They also performed with Shirley Ceasar on a program in Rocky Mount, NC.

Lillie was educated in the Nash County public school system. While attending high school at Nash County Training School (Nash Central High School). Lillie loved to sing in the church and school choirs. At her graduation in 1953, she was asked to sing a solo at the graduation ceremony. After graduation, she moved to the Washington, DC area, where she met her husband, Aubrey Minor, Sr. They both shared a love of singing and playing music. On December 15, 1954, she and Aubrey were united in holy matrimony.

Upon meeting his wife, Lillie joined Aubrey and another avid singer, Raymond Roebuck, to form a group known as the "Three Stars". The Stars went through several transitions. At different times Aubrey's sister Earline Brawner and Lillie's sisters Dorothy Hopkins and Bettie Hall joined the group. The group performed often throughout the Washington Metropolitan area. The final group consisting of Aubrey, Lillie and Dorothy Hopkins continued to sing and record songs for several years.

In 1961 on her way home from church one night, GOD spoke to her and showed her a vision of a new church. She told her husband and eight other people about the vision. She and the others started having prayer, praise, and testimony service joined by the Holy Spirit in the Minor's living room. The Lord even inspired Lillie with the name "Mount Nebo" and she shared it with the group. It was agreed upon that this would be the name of the church, "Mount Nebo Baptist Church." In 1962, the name was amended to "The New Mount Nebo Baptist Church" because another church had the same name. Lillie's vision to start a new church and continue to do GOD's work is still being manifested today in Capitol Heights, MD.

Lillie was always reaching out to help others and when it came to family, she accepted them with open arms. Many family members are thankful to Lillie and Aubrey for opening their home and assisting them in obtaining employment when coming to the Washington, DC area. At the time of her retirement, in 1992, she was a manager at the Ceridian Corporation in Virginia (which is a descendant of the Control Data Corporation of the District of Columbia). Lillie also worked part-time at Kings Dominion Amusement Park in Doswell, VA.

When you met Lillie, she always had a smile to share and a warm hug to lift your spirit. She was very active in her church, her community charity organizations. She was a member of the NAACP in Washington and then in Virginia when she moved to Caroline County. Her NAACP work as the youth advisor in the Caroline County Chapter was recognized in February 2013 with an award for Outstanding Service. Her tireless work on many committees, as a program chairperson, Sunday School teacher, youth choir director and other music department activities at Ebenezer Baptist Church and The New Mount Nebo Baptist Church will always be remembered. When she felt that there was work to be done in the name of Jesus, she always stepped forward and went about GOD's work. A job well done Lillie; a job well done.

In 2002, Lillie lost the love of her life, Aubrey, to a car accident that almost left her with serious injuries and unable to sing. People loved to hear her sing, they enjoyed hearing her hit those high notes and hold them until you felt them in your soul. She knew her road to recovery was going to be long and hard, but she also knew that when you put your faith and trust in GOD's hands, he will not leave you or forsake you. GOD showed up and showed out in her life. She did not let her body limit her, in 2009, she graduated from Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA with a degree in Biblical Studies. He truly bought her a mighty long way, and she always gave him praise and glory for every blessed day he gave her. Lillie Mae Bowens Minor, "WHAT A WONDERFUL LIFE!!"

Lillie was preceded in death by her husband of 48 years, Aubrey; her parents, one son: Kelvin Leon, Sr.; five sisters: Sarah Margaret Noel, Maxie Della Bobbitt, Mary Madgalene Smith, Alice Mae McCrimmon, and Bettie Deloris Hall; two brothers: William Bowens and Essex Bowens, Jr.; five brothers-in-law: John Noel, Clement Bobbitt, Christopher Hopkins, Daniel McCrimmon, and Richard Hall.

She leaves to cherish her memory: two daughters; LaVoris (Candy) Minor, and Anita Robyn Minor-Clifford (Lavant): four sons: Aubrey Ellis Minor, Jr.; Donald Rayvon Minor, Billy Carlando Minor (Nijeri), and Eric Eugene Minor; one sister, Dorothy Hopkins; three brothers; David (Elsie) Bowens, James (Sallie) Bowens, and Charles (Rosalin) Bowens; Sister-in-Law, Connie Bowens; Brother-in-law, Edward Smith; eight grandchildren: Kelvin L. Jr. (Sherrica),Dominique, Damion, Deion (Shana), LaNita, Krystal, Kayla, and Kaaman; twelve great-grands: Kenderic, Kwynton; Kambria, Kahmani, Elijah, Brooklyn, Brynleigh, Braylen, Madison, Khalisi, Laya, Josiah, and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.