Senior Overseer Christine S. Lattimore was born on August 23, 1933, to her loving parents, Will and Lena Jeffries in Cleveland County, N.C.. She was educated in Cleveland County Schools. She departed this life on Sabbath afternoon, May 27, 2023, in Statesville, N.C., in her home surrounded by family.

For many of her adult years she was a cafeteria worker in the Iredell County School System and a loving and devoted Nanny for the Boyce family children — Mark, Richard and Susan. They adored Miss Christine until the end of her life and were confident that her love for them was genuine. In all areas of her life, she was committed, and faithful and loving.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Will and Lena Smith; her husbands, Sidney Lattimore and Frank Lee Cauthen; her siblings, Sarah May Jeffries Lowe, J.W. Smith, Clarence Smith, June Smith, Willie John Smith, Sammie Lee Smith Sr., Walter Dean Smith, Annie Bell Tomlin, Susie McCleave, Lenora McCleave, George Smith, and Jessie Mason; her children, Everette Lattimore, Mary (Mae) Gidney, Linda Adams, son-in-love Bishop Harvey J. Daniels; daughter-in-love, Mother Margaret Smith; and Bishop Elect LC Smith.

She leaves to celebrate her life and love her children, Pastor Frank Cauthen Jr. (Melissa), Overseer Georgia A. Daniels, and Diane Pitt (William); and daughter-in-love, Missionary Shelia Lattimore; her grandchildren, Angelo Smith (Renee), Scott Smith (Edith), Bryon Lattimore, L.C. Smith, Stacey Smith, Tosha Corpening (Donnie), Pam Boston (Larry), Nathan Bailey (Tammy), Michelle McLain, Mark Cauthen (Kayena), Janice Massey (William), Nikia Griffin, Phyliss Chambers, Joself Daniels (Latoya), Treva Lattimore, Monique Caldwell, Chris Caldwell, Frank Cauthen II, and Tasha Cauthen; her special grandchildren, Shonda Parker, Janice Huff, Shontae Broaden, Javonda Boston, and Jamie Huff (deceased); her god-daughter, Chera Hood; her special daughter, Lady Tammy Corpening; her special children, Mark, Richard and Susan Boyce; her 42 great grands; her 6 great great grands; and countless nieces, nephews, and friends.

The Lord had his hand on this mighty woman of God from the very start of her life.

Coming from humble beginnings – God yet blessed her with greatness and favor. He gave her the spirit of a warrior long before she realized her enemy was the devil himself. He blessed her with courage and fortitude. She was honest and straightforward; a lover of people, the kind of preacher who was comfortable in the company of saints or sinners, blacks or whites, wealthy or impoverished. A woman fit to be used by God. A woman who was a worker, willing to get swollen feet and sweated out hair selling dinners to raise funds for the church. There was no job at the church beneath her. She was willing to do whatever was needed to keep the church up and running, beautified and sanctified. She made an impact!

She was a mother to many. Although the Lord blessed her womb with plenty of her own, he did not stop there. He gave her many children from other mothers; some came as youngsters, some as full-grown adults. Her nurturing spirit comforted and soothed right alongside chastising and rebuking; but there was never a time where they felt either unloved or unsafe. She was a protector and she believed in training up a child in the way they should go. She made an impact!

On the fifth Sunday of June 1963, she became a member of The Commandments Keepers Church of The Living God, The Pillar and Ground of the Truth, Inc. She began to work her way through different helps in the church from Deaconess to Sr. Usher Board and worked with the Jr. Usher Board. During the summer, she spent time with the Jr. Usher Board nurturing them in prayer and teaching. Along with Mother Rankin, she led the Convocation March for many years. Her consistency made her stand out to people and she was a light in the Rankin Town Community. She would go into homes that other people feared because of the poor state they were in; but she would clean and cook and take care of those who were never too ashamed to let her in. She would chastise their children and preach Jesus to them while she worked. She made an impact!

Before she became a licensed Minister, Senior Overseer had visions of Lincolnton, which she shared with Chief Apostle Bishop J.G. Simenton. He trusted God in her life and gave her permission to go and start a work. She hesitated, then became afflicted. After that, she said “I’ll Go” and she went. She made an impact!

She became an advanced student of the Gospel at the very hand of our Founding Bishop John Garland Simenton. At the age of 39, God blessed her like none other when he paved the way for her to move into the home with Bishop and Mother Mattie Simenton. She had her own room, her own privacy and access to the common areas of the home. Bishop and Mother Simenton mentored her, answered her questions and disciplined her. She was an eager student, praising God for the unmatched blessing of living on the anointed grounds and under the anointed roof of Bishop’s home. She did not sit on her blessings and hide them from others, but rather she shared what she learned so that others would grow in the Lord alongside her. She learned and began to teach. She made an impact!

Bishop Simenton trusted sending her out to work with other churches in the body and Goldsboro was special in her heart. She often traveled to Goldsboro with the request and permission of the local pastor. She developed a great love for the people there and made herself available to preach revivals and funerals. She also worked with Auxiliary Programs, and counseled members as needed. Her love for Goldsboro was extraordinary. She loved the people and they loved her. Bibleway #2 was her home away from home. She made an impact!

On the second Sunday of June 1978, she preached her initial sermon. The subject was “What Are You Going To Do?” And, in that very year, along with Mother Mae Nell Lackey they started up Location #9 in Lincolnton. The rest is history still in the making. She made an impact!

After faithfully working in different people’s homes and other Pastors’ churches throughout the community, her faithfulness to carry out the work of God made a striking impression on Mother Ada Wingate, who was looking for a church home. Mother Wingate decided to turn over the deed and her property to Pastor Lattimore because … She made an impact!

The devil never took a rest from trying to stop the work that Pastor Lattimore and Assistant Pastor Lackey worked with all their strength and the power of God to build up. But they were strong soldiers and were able to endure the hardness. Pastor Lattimore and Mother Lackey continued to fight the good fight. Together, they made an impact!

On the fourth Sabbath and fifth First Day (August 28-29) 1981, Bibleway #9 along with her sister churches, friend churches, the local community, family and friends marched up Horseshoe Lake Road into the building. The vision that Senior Overseer C.S. Lattimore had of the church in Lincolnton had come to pass. She made an impact!

She was a teacher of the gospel, and a preacher of the gospel. She loved the gospel and lived the gospel. She raised up workers and set forth the very first Field Missionary. She birthed several ministers to the ministry, which include Bishop Elect LC Smith (deceased), Pastor Frank Cauthen, Bishop Chris Caldwell, Missionary Shelia Lattimore, Evangelist Melissa Cauthen, Evangelist Shonda Holmes, Elder Greg Holmes, Missionary Janice Huff, Missionary Pamela Boston, Pastor Angelo Smith, and Assistant Pastor Renee Smith. Other Ministerial Staff that she helped to nurture were Elder P.N. Torrence and Evangelist Margaret Torrence who were already ministers of the gospel. Three locations across North and South Carolina were under her charge. These are Bibleway location #9 in Lincolnton, NC, Bibleway #8 in Estill, S.C., and Bibleway #5 in York, S.C. She did the work. She made an impact!

When Mother Simenton’s health began to fail, Senior Overseer lovingly nursed and cared for her until she passed. She also cared for Mother Feimster in her latter days. She did the same for our beloved Founder Bishop John Garland Simenton. When he passed, his home became her full-time residence. People visited to be in her presence, listen to her teach or sing sweet songs. Many came for prayer and were healed because she prayed believing God. She was a shining example of how to save souls, how to love God and how to love God’s people. She made an impact!

In 2020, she was elevated to Senior Overseer – the Highest Ranking Official in this body. From Deaconess to Senior Overseer – Nobody but God, because — She made an impact!

She spent 60 years in that beautifully anointed Home. She was a young impressionable 39-year-old when she moved into the residence. When she left the residence, she was an 89-year-old hoary head full of wisdom, knowledge, understanding and great faith. She left to be cared for by her children and grandchildren. It was their desire to provide her with the very best care because … She made an impact! Glory To God!

Visit the Book of Memories for Senior Overseer Christine Lattimore at www.rutledgeandbigham.com.

Rutledge and Bigham Funeral Home is serving the Lattimore and Cauthen Family.