On Thursday, February 26, 2021, Leila Martin Dearing, known to many as "Mother Dear" peacefully transitioned to her new heavenly home to be with our Lord and Savior.  Leila was born on September 23, 1931 to the late Edward Martin of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina (NC) and the late Classie K. Lattimore of Cleveland County, NC.

Leila was a native of Boiling Springs, NC.  In 1951, she graduated from Green Bethel High School in Boiling Springs, NC.  When Leila was in high school, she played basketball and was part of the school's Drama Club.  Shortly after high school, she moved to Washington, DC and while in DC, she met and married the love of her life, the late John Dearing.  F rom their beautiful union, they had five sons.

In the early 1970s, Leila moved from Washington, DC to Boston, MA where she spent several years working and taking care of her family.  She had a heart of gold and would do anything for anyone. She would often take people into her home to help them by providing food and shelter.

Leila loved her family and friends so much and always enjoyed traveling.  One of her closest and dearest friends was the late and famous gospel singer Mahalia Jackson.  She and Mahalia were lifelong friends up until Mahalia's death.  Leila loved the Lord and attended church services regularly.  She joined the Isle of Patmos Baptist Church around the 1990s and was a faithful and committed member of the church.  She will be forever missed and her memories will live on in our hearts.

She was preceded in death by her husband, her two sons, her six brothers, and her sister.  Leila leaves to mourn her three sons, her grandchildren , her great grandchildren, her great great grandchildren, her uncle and aunt. She also leaves to mourn and cherish her memories, her two sisters, many close relatives, aunts, uncles, a host of special nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends.