Mother Agnes Vickers, 85, of Palatka, peacefully transitioned from her earthly labors to eternal rest surrounded by her loving family, on Saturday, February 17, 2018 at St. Vincent's Medical Center-Southside (Community Hospice), Jacksonville. The daughter of John and Lottie Lee (Caesar) Vickers, she was born on Monday, August 22, 1932 in Jesup, GA. She was educated in the Toombs County, GA School District. Upon graduation, Agnes relocated to Palatka, FL. Mother Vickers was a faithful, lifelong member of the Refuge Church of our Lord, Palatka and served under the late Elder Toby J. Crosby until his transition and presently served under the leadership of Apostle Gentle L. Groover, Sr., and Bishop Kenneth Groover. She exemplified her faith in her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ through her daily Christian walk with Him. Her spirituality was revealed as she would let her little light shine and as she held on to God's unchanging hand. Her heart's declaration was "I Love the Lord, He Heard my Cry!" and "Glory, Glory, Hallelujah!"

"Ms. Agnes," as she was affectionately known, was a Christian woman with a generous heart, who would always check on her neighbors and friends to discover who needed help. She would drop off clothes, food or whatever she felt would ease someone's burden. She enjoyed walking throughout her neighborhood, stopping and greeting those she met. She had a tradition of asking some common questions: "Hey, baby, how you doin'?" and "How's your mama?" "Ms. Agnes" always shared something humorous and concluded each conversation with her legendary line, "God bless you."

Always being a continuous source of charity and volunteerism, Mother Vickers received the "Phoebe Freeman Humanitarian" award in 2004, the "Putnam County African-American Cultural Arts Council Unsung Hero" Award in 2009, and was recognized by the North Florida Diocese of the Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith, Inc., for her servitude and faithfulness to the Diocese Women's Council in 1998. Even through her employment, community involvement and missionary activities, "GPS" and cell phones had nothing on "Ms. Agnes" because the mother of seven always knew where her children were during each moment of the day, long before those tracking devices were developed. An awesome, wonderful cook, her children treasured her homemade biscuits, sweet potato pies and her infamous apple Jelly cake, made from scratch (including the jelly).

She was a dedicated, industrious woman, who worked numerous jobs from laborer to housekeeper and subsequently retired from the Putnam County School District following 20+ years of employment. However, Mother Vickers' most significant job was being a true faith warrior on behalf of her family, whom she loved and protected from hurt, harm and danger through effectual, fervent prayer.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in eternal rest by her brothers, Oscar, Charlie, and Johnny Vickers; sisters, Fannie Vickers Boyd and Rosa Lee Vickers Stephens; "like brothers," Phillip Ceasar and Ben Lowe; "like sisters," Lillie Mae Walker, Wilma Jones and Effie Lee Flagg-Smith.

She leaves to cherish her memories: sons and daughters, Lottie Watson, George (Beverly) Latson, Carolyn (Pastor Curtis) Murray, Bernice Johnson, Porter (Evangelina) Johnson, Agnes (Joseph) Colebut, and Willie "Will" (Yvette) Jones; 19 grandchildren, Felecia Ceasar, Kim Watson, Roosevelt Watson, lll, Andre Latson, Shawn Latson, Greg Latson, Artemus Murray, Alyosius Murray, Curtrell Washington, Brandon Johnson, Courtland Imeokparia, Cameron Heard, Asa Colebut, Jasmine Jones, Brandon Jones, Jared Jones, Jaquan Jones, Ashley Lattimore, Jordyn Jones; 23 great-grandchildren; three great-great grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews, god-children, other relatives and loving friends, especially her lifelong friends, Ethel Rivers and Mother Leola Ruth.

Public visitation: 5-8 p.m., Friday, February 23 at "Flagg's Chapel of Serenity." The Homegoing Celebration will be 2 p.m., Saturday, February 24 at Mt. Tabor First Baptist Church, 4909 St. Johns Avenue, Palatka. Bishop Kenneth Groover, Pastor of Refuge Church of Palatka, is the eulogist.