Mother Zola Mae Rhines (October 5, 1925 – April 25, 2022)

Visitation: Friday, May 6, 2022
Visitation Time: 4:00 – 6:00 PM
Visitation Location: Postell’s Mortuary Chapel
811 North Powers Drive
Orlando, Florida

Service Date: Saturday, May 7, 2022
Service Time: 11:00 AM
Service Location: Orlando Community Baptist Church
651 Campanella Avenue
Orlando, Florida

Obituary:

Mother Zola Mae Rhines, 96, received her angelic escort from earth to heaven on Monday, April 25, 2022 in Newark, NJ. Zola was born to the late Grant and Lue Staley October 5, 1925, in Cordele, Georgia. She grew up in Cordele, Georgia, later moved to Jacksonville, Florida and finally to Orlando, Florida. She was the youngest of eleven children. The family has longevity. Her father lived to the age of 108, all siblings lived past 80 years of age and preceded her in death.

At the early age of 16, March 14, 1941, Mother Rhines confessed Jesus as her Lord and Savior. She frequently spoke of the night a falling star fell to the ground in front of her and her sister as they, along with others, walked miles to a revival meeting. She clearly remembered that Pastor Isaac, a visiting revival preacher preached from Isaiah the 6th chapter, the title of his sermon was Lord, Send Me, I will go! That night, when the call was given, she ran up to the preacher, “crying I am saved! Yes, that night, she gave her life to the Lord and promised to serve Him till death. That promise she fulfilled.

Upon returning home that night, she sang all night long. Her mother told her father and siblings, “leave her alone”, she’s just thanking God for her salvation! From that night forward she accepted her assignment as a member of God’s choir waving her hands in praise and thanksgiving when the manifesting power of God fell upon her! She loved to sing praises to God! She sang as she completed most task, especially cooking, sewing, washing and during late night prayers.

During her latter years, she lived with her daughters and would often laugh when sharing how one of them would rush into her room to see if she was okay as she in the early hours of the morning, between mid-night and dawn, praise God so loudly that the child was awaken and thought something unusual was happening and her mother was crying out seeking help! As the child frantically voiced, are you okay? Mother would say, “I am just praising my God”! This practice continued and several of her daughters witnessed her strength and power in prayer and praise.

We all observed God’s faithfulness to her prayer request. This freedom and fellowship of worship in her daily continued until the Lord call her to be in continual worship with Him! Saturday, May 23, 1942, Zola Mae Staley and Ulysses Hillman were united in Holy matrimony. To that union, eight beautiful, healthy children were born. Two sons and one grandson precede her in death. December 22, 1968, she married the late Connie B. Rhines. One of the greatest joys of that union was afternoon Bible Study. For hours the two of them would sit on the front porch learning, laughing, and sharing the Word of God.

Mother Rhines was a woman firmly committed to her faith in God, to her family, their well-being, and to her servant call, assisting others in the church and community. She loved her church, Community Baptist Church. She was one of the original founding members of the community church in Taft. She served God’s people as a Deaconess, Choir Member, an encourager in the Word of God, Prayer Warrior, servant to the sick and those in need, and mentor to many. Her favorite passions were singing, praying, cooking, fishing, and helping others. Her favorite songs were “Welcome Home” and “At The Gate I know”.

She will forever live in the hearts of her loving family: nine children: Ola Maye Walker, Jeraldine Perkins (Joseph), Joshua Hillman (Delois), Delores Bailey (Valentine), Katherine Hillman, Freddie Hillman (Barbara), Lillie Rouse (Eddie), Norma Rhines-Russ (Robert) and Patricia White: seventeen grandchildren: twenty-three great grandchildren: one great-great grandchild: three spiritual daughters: Christine Stone, Rose Hester and Meloneze Moore.

Visitation will be held on Friday, May 6, 2022 from 4-6PM at the mortuary. A service of celebration will be held on Saturday, May 7, 2022, 11:00 AM at Orlando Community Baptist Church, 651 Campanella Avenue, Orlando with Rev. Alfred J. Moore, officiating. Interment: Washington Park Cemetery, Orlando, FL.