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PATERSON, N.J. – Linda Eloise Bethea of Paterson died Saturday, Feb. 20. She was 61.
She was born Sept. 5, 1954, in Paterson. She was the second of six children to the Rev. James and Ethel Bethea. She was educated in the Paterson public school systems, where she was a baton twirler in the Eastside High School Marching Band. After high school, she went on to work at the Passaic County Board of Social Services, where she started as a data entry clerk and was later promoted to supervisor. In June 2011, she retired after 35 years of service.
In 1989, she became a member of Agape Christian Ministries, where she was a praise and worship team leader, member of the adult choir and a teacher of the children’s church ministry and youth department. As the ministry grew, she also functioned as the audio technician for Agape. She became the founder of the Agape Praise Dance Ministry. She continued her passion for music by working weekly as a radio commentator co-hosting with Liz Black at the WFDU 89.1 FM Christian radio station.
She is survived by her children, Miesha and Samuel Bethea of Paterson; five grandchildren, Dahmir, Najee, Makayla, Esau and Blair; her parents, the Rev. James and Ethel Bethea; four sisters, Shirley Eddings of Keansburg, Brenda Fields of Passaic, Maxine (Darryl) Wright of Peekskill, N.Y., and Sonya (Jeremy) Bethea-Leo of Paterson; one brother, James G. Bethea, Jr. of Colorado Springs, Colo.; two nieces, Shayla McCray and Adriana Leo; one nephew, Jeremy Leo Jr.; three great-nephews, Justin, David and O'Mere; special cousins, Corinne Reese and Willie Mae Dunn; and aunts, uncles, and a host of cousins, church family and friends.
Services will take place Saturday, Feb. 27., at 11 a.m. at Agape Christian Ministries, 76 Ward St., Paterson.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Nesbitt Funeral Home.
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