Connie (Brown) Akers

Connie B Akers, age 83, of Sanford, passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 14, 2024 at Parkview Retirement Village. Connie Lee Brown was born at home on November 12, 1940 in Oxford, Pennsylvania. She grew up in Pentecost at the Broad Street Church.  She is preceded in death by her parents, John Walter and Laura Lee Brown and siblings Cedric, Doris, Arthur (Otsy), and Nancy. She is survived by her siblings Agnes and Larry, two sons, George L. Akers and wife Annie of Sanford NC, and David Akers and wife Rhonda of Franklinton NC, ten grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren.

In the fall of 1955, at age 14, Bishop Akers baptized Connie Brown at Thunder Hill. Before her baptism, she was asked if there was anything she would like to say. She said, “Yes, put me all the way under.” She had been taught once you were baptized there is no turning back; you were taking on the Lord’s name.

In 1957 she was married to Bishop George L Akers Sr. In 1967, they took the pastorate of First Apostolic Church in Sanford, North Carolina. She served as a pastor’s wife for twenty-one years until Bishop Akers’ death in May of 1988. Four of those years, she served as the National Ladies Auxiliary Vice President of the Assemblies of the Lord Jesus Christ. Mother Akers reminisced, “Those twenty-one years of pastoring were the best years of my life. I had always heard there was no higher position than a pastor, but I always felt that way about being a pastor’s wife. You were always a servant of God. That’s all there was to it. I would do it all over again.”

She once remarked, “When I married ‘the preacher’, I married the best there was. When you’ve had the best, why would you marry anymore.” For the past 36 years, her role in ministry took on a new face. She was affectionately known at FAC as “Mother Akers”. She was a prayer warrior and taught personal Bible Studies.

Mother Akers will always be remembered for her ministry in singing. She played the accordion and piano, she taught Sunday School classes, and she worked very hard to ensure the church sanctuary and buildings were spotlessly clean and well-looked after.       

She was also a unit secretary at Central Carolina Hospital Emergency Department for almost 30 years. She treasured the memories made with numerous doctors, nurses, and staff.

 When asked about how she felt about her walk with God, speaking of Heaven she said, “I’d like to walk right out of here today. It’s the best life. I couldn’t live without this precious Truth.” The congregation of FAC cherishes her memory. With a thankful and grateful heart, we honor “Mother Akers.” And we are confident in the same hope she held to, that she is now present with the Lord.

The Family will receive friends on Monday, March 18, 2024 at First Apostolic Church, Sanford from 4:00 PM- 5:45PM

The Funeral Service will Follow at 6:00 PM. Burial will be private.

Donations to First Apostolic Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 2219 Sanford, NC 27331

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