Obituary of Mayola Stovall
Mayola Stovall was born May 22, 1924, in Dorsey, Mississippi to Emmit and Cordia Whitfield. She attended grammar school in Dorsey and graduated from George Washington Carver high school in Tupelo, Mississippi.
She was the 9th of 12 children (6 boys and 6 girls) and as the youngest daughter, she took advantage of being the “baby” girl, especially when it came to working in the fields. Mayola’s siblings told stories of how she and her sister Ophelia would fight all the time because of something Mayola had mischievously started. Even as an adult, when she visited her family they wouldn’t let her do anything, referring to her as the “Baby”.
On April 16, 1944, she married the love of her life, Eddie Lee Stovall. They had been married 63 years when he went home to be with the Lord November 16, 2007. In 1945 their first child was born, a girl, Bobbie Ann. Eighteen months later, twin boys, Eddie and Freddy were born. Mayola’s sisters were really concerned about whether their little baby sister could handle taking care of the 3 babies. In those days, it wasn't at all uncommon for family members to give children to other family members to raise. Her sister Ether Bell thought she should give Bobbie Ann to her, particularly since she had lost her daughter at the age of 12. For Mayola, that option was never a consideration. In 1947, the Stovall family of 5, struck out to California and settled in Oroville, joining one of Eddie’s aunts and her husband already living in Oroville. Two more children, Robert and Marie were later born in Oroville.
Mayola had accepted Christ at an early age and in Oroville, she united with Taylor Memorial CME church. She was very involved in all aspects of the ministry there. Her special love was the youth and the older ladies of the church. She learned to drive in California and worked with the kids in the youth choir, driving them to various places to sing as well as to church conference events. Not only did she care for her own five children, any child knew they could come to her for help in any situation. Kids would come by for homemade biscuits in the morning on their way to school. If they needed a ride or anything, they felt comfortable asking her. The Stovall home was a gathering place for the children in the neighborhood. Mayola also held a special place for the older ladies in the church, many of whom did not know how to drive. She would pick them up for Missionary meetings or Stewardess meetings and take them home as well. The Methodist church reassigns ministers every so often after the annual conference, which resulted in many of them not relocating to Oroville to live. Mayola would generously open her home to new Pastors and their families when they came to town on the weekends. In those days, everybody looked out for each other and shared what they had with one another. Mayola’s loving ways was very much a part of the glue that bound the community together in those days. The community, in return showed love towards her. Even after the Stovall children were grown and not living at home, her older friend, Mrs. Alice Toney would always make homemade apple pies and dinner rolls when she found out that “Mayola’s children” were coming for a visit…and they were the “BEST”.
In 1984 Mayola and Eddie became members of Calvary Christian Center under the leadership of Pastor Phillip Goudeaux, Sacramento, California. There she continued to serve in various capacities; such as the hospitality team, the finance team and as a deaconess. She was always known for her faithfulness and her style, particularly the beautiful hats she always wore to church. Perhaps most of all, she was known for her bright, genuine smile that would light up a room and make everyone feel so comfortable.
Mayola loved doing ceramics. She was so good at it that the instructor took lessons from her. Many of her beautiful ceramic pieces adorned her home and were admired by all who visited there.
She truly cherished her family and knew every new baby in each generation that was born and was proud of each of her family. Generations of Mayola’s family have had a first hand opportunity to experience what it means to be a part of a loving family, to give to others expecting nothing in return and to know the Lord. She set the standard. When the whole clan would gather on Florence Avenue, many, many wonderful memories were created sharing great meals together, praying together, boating, jet skiing and fishing together on the lake. Mayola loved to fish. She could out fish the average man in her day. She won a bass tournament for catching the biggest bass at Lake Oroville Dam. She was awarded an outboard motor for fishing boats. The last time she went fishing was at Pastor Goudeaux’s. She caught the largest bass in his pond, but he wanted to keep it since it was a good breeder. .
Mrs. Mayola Stovall, from Dorsey, Mississippi, would tell you she had a full life, and even though her life did not escape tragedy along the way, in spite of the tough times, her love for the Lord was steadfast and she always spoke about how blessed she was. And when you would hear her sing her favorite song, “Jesus is Real to Me”, you knew there was absolutely no doubt about her belief in Jesus Christ the Redeemer.
Mayola was preceded in death by her parents, Emmit and Cordia Whitfield, husband Eddie Lee Stovall, Sr., son Eddie Stovall, Jr., son Robert Stovall and daughter Barbara Stovall-Johnson, grandsons Derrick Stovall and Kinshasa Williams and 11 brothers and sisters. She is survived by two children, son Freddie Stovall (Brenda) and daughter Marie Stovall-Williams (George) and daughter-in-law Freda Stovall, and a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren and a great-great-grandchild.
A Celebration of LIfe will be held on Friday, July 28, 2017 at 11:00 AM at Ramsey Funeral Home , 1175 Robinson Street, Oroville, California with Burial to follow at Memorial Park Cemetery, 5646 Lincoln Blvd. Oroville, California. Arrangements are entrusted to Ramsey Funeral Home 530-534-3877.