Tributes

SISTER ALICE R. LATIMER was born July 19, 1935, in Abbeville County, South Carolina, the third of five children born to Homer and Willie Florence Latimer. When she was five years old, the family moved to Washington, D.C. However, she and her brother Homer Lester Latimer, would be sent back to South Carolina many summers to be with their grandparents and to experience farm life. Alice was very sensitive to the Lord as a child. After her mother joined Bible Way Church in the late 1940’s, she felt led of the Lord to be baptized. She attended Sunday school and church services on Sundays. During this time, she became interested in show business, and after high school graduation, got a job at the Frank Moore Employment Agency. The owner wanted to sponsor Alice in a night club. Seeing a possible conflict with what the Lord wanted for her; she met with Bishop Smallwood E. Williams who prayed and counseled with her. She decided that she could not serve the Lord and be in show business also. After that decision she promised God, she would serve Him if He blessed her with a government job. She took her Civil test and applied to the Pentagon; she received an offer with a grade higher than expected! After 41 years and 11 months of Federal government service, she retired, having worked at the Pentagon for five years and the remaining years at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Shortly afterwards Alice went to the church where she received the baptism of the Holy Ghost and made a total commitment to the Lord. Mother Adrue Odom was the prayer leader, along with her daughters, Mary Coleman and Alice Price. Some of Sister Latimer’s biblical training includes the following: A certificate in the Standard Teachers’ Training Course, Bible classes in the Bible Way Training School, a preliminary certificate in the ETTA Program began at Bible Way; and an adult education diploma received from the Washington Bible College. In her work for the Lord, she has served as Sunday school teacher, drama group director and program coordinator of the Sunday school (under Elder Henry Marshall). Nationally, she served as secretary in the General Young People’s Union and editor of The Crown Report, a national Sunday school magazine. Alice was a member of the Gospel Chorus. She was a reporter for The Youth Informer, a companion to the former Bible Way News Voice and she taught in the Bible Way Educational Center for ten years. She became a member of the True-Blue Fellowship Club under the leadership of the late Mother Irene Russell. In April 1947, Mother Russell asked her to serve as president and the late Bishop James Silver appointed her. Alice also received higher education by taking classes at American University, Department of Agriculture Graduate School, Southeastern University, and the Atlantic Business College. Sis. Alice authored several songs, including "Wonderful Joy”, “I Wondered”, and “Dear Jesus.” Sis. Alice went to be with the Lord on February 22, 2026. She was surrounded by her family, including her sister Daisy who lovingly cared for Alice and was her main caretaker for almost 10 years. Alice is preceded in death by her parents, Homer and Willie Florence Latimer; sister, Willie Mae Smith; brother, Homel and leaves to cherish her memory: brother, Earl; sister, Daisy; brother-in-law, George Fossett; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins along with friends and other acquaintances.

Tributes

Alice Ruth Latimer

July 22, 1935 - February 22, 2026