Irene H. Bazemore

Mother Irene H. Bazemore, also lovingly referred to as "Renie", died peacefully in her home in Suffolk, Virginia at the age of 79.Mother Bazemore was born on December 29, 1937 in Whaleyville, Virginia to Melvin and Eva Brown Hinton. She attended the Virginia Public School System. Mother Bazemore married her high school sweetheart, James Milton Bazemore in April 1960. From that union, four children were born. Soon after moving to Philadelphia, PA, Mother Bazemore went to work for the United States Postal Service and the Internal Revenue Service. She retired in 1971.Mother Bazemore was an accomplished pianist which she learned by ear at a very young age. She loved gospel music. She mentored and further crafted the melodic voices of her nieces, Overseer Leotha Brockington, the late Johnnice Riddick, Kay Copeland, and along with Bishop Viola Parker, as youngsters in Whaleyville. She was Choir Director at various churches in Philadelphia. Mother Bazemore was very creative and was passionate about writing, often writing short stories and plays that were performed in the church. She was an active and dedicated member of Mt. Joy Food for Living Ministries and the Living Word Ministry until her illness worsened. She served on numerous ministries and boards including as President of the Mother's Board and President of the Cards Ministry. She was also instrumental in coordinating Appreciation services for those whose work she felt was deserving.Mother Bazemore was preceded in death by her husband, James, and is survived bydaughters, Denise Bazemore (Virginia Beach, VA), Wanda Lassiter (Lexington Park, MD), and Tami Bazemore (Suffolk, VA), her son, James Downs Bazemore (Oxon Hill, MD), stepson, Randy Hunter (Newport News, VA), sister, Louise Goodman (Suffolk, VA), brothers, Melvin Hinton (Suffolk, VA), Alonzie Hinton (Hollis, NY), and Haywood Simpson (Suffolk, VA), sister in law, Betty Bazemore (Philadelphia, PA), Louise Hinton (Hollis, NY), Godson, Reverend Nathaniel Jamison, Sr. (Philadelphia, PA), 10 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and a host of other family members and friends.A visitation with with family will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, October 28, 2017 in the Melvin J. Blowe Chapel of Crocker Funeral Home. She will have Graveside Rites noon In Carver Memorial Cemetery. Professional services with dignity have been entrusted to the staff of Crocker Funeral Home, Inc. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Irene H. Bazemore, please visit our flower store.