Della Mae Wheeler

DELLA MAE WHEELER entered this world on Monday, December 11th 1933 as the third daughter and fourth child of Joseph and Clara Bell Rowry. Della’s childhood was spent with her family in the beautiful state of Mississippi. She enjoyed playing with her siblings and learned the enjoyment of cooking from her mother. In her later life, Della would continue to enjoy bringing people together with her cooking.

Della attended and completed her academic studies in the Sunflower County School System. After completing her schooling, Della desired to create a better life for herself. Subsequently at age 21, she chose to relocate to the Midwest and settled in Indianapolis, Indiana, where she resided until her transition to eternal life. After moving to Indianapolis, Della’s cousin Evelyn Carpenter was instrumental in bringing Della to salvation. She later retired from the upscale Marrott hotel after 25 years.

Della loved the Lord with her whole heart, soul and mind (Matthew 22:37.) After giving her life to the Lord in the 1950s, Della chose to place her membership at COGIC Robinson Temple under the leadership of the late Superintendent James & First Lady Dorothy Robinson. During this time, she assisted her cousin Mother Evelyn Carpenter on the Mother’s Board. After Superintendent Robinson’s death, Della continued her membership under the pastorate of Asst. Superintendent Willie D. Winfrey.

Della continued to be regularly active in her church. In addition to being on the Mother’s Board, she also served as the Chaplin for Friday night services, worked in the kitchen with her cousin Mother Carpenter and served as the treasurer for the Mother’s Board. Della was a shining light to all who met and encountered her. She really enjoyed people.

Della was called from labor to reward on Wednesday, June 17th 2020. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters Annie Wilder, Ida Robinson and Ruby Thomas, her brothers J.W. Rowry, William and Clarence Winfrey, and her great-grandson Sacha Rory. She leaves to forever cherish her memory, her only child, Barbara Justice, her grandsons Eriq (Yolanda) Rory and Jimmie Justice, Jr., great-grandson Seth Rory, her brother Willie (Wiltha) Winfrey and her COGIC Robinson Temple church family and other relatives.