Ethel Mae Hines Rivers, 79, of Palatka, peacefully entered the sunset of life on Wednesday, February 20, 2019 while in transit to Haven Hospice E.T. York Care Center in Gainesville, FL. The daughter of Willie James and Ethel Mae (Thomas) Hines, Sr., she was a native of Pelham, GA., born on Thursday, September 28, 1939. In 1944, the family relocated to Palatka, and she was educated in the Putnam County School District, graduating in Central Academy High School, class of 1957.

As a military wife, the Rivers family traveled extensively, residing on numerous military installations in the United States, at New Haven CT., Huntsville, AL., and El Paso, TX; and in Germany, at Hanau, Nuremberg, and Stuttgart, respectively. She was a Certified Nursing Assistant, formerly employed at Lakeshore Nursing Home of Crescent City, retiring in the mid-1980's. Ethel was a faithful member and usher at Calvary Missionary Baptist Church. Her hobbies included fishing, meeting people, and playing board games. She enjoyed spending quality time with her family, especially her grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, Ethel was preceded in eternal rest by her brothers, Bonnie, Willie James Jr., Lewis, and Edgar Hines.

She was the cherished mother of Eddie L. (Jen) Rivers, Fisher, IN; Earlene M. (Edward) Williams, Orange Park; Eva M. (Willie) Bartley, Newberry; Efrem (Sherry) Rivers, O'Fallon, IL; the beloved sister of Albert (Linda) Hines, Palm Coast; and Johnnie (Audrey) Hines, Deltona; the loving grandmother of 9, Cody (Becca) Rivers, Cameron Rivers, Cassidy Rivers, Edward (Nina) Williams III, Eltrez Williams, Ahshaad (Shaquelia) Nichols, Jeremy Robinson, Evan L. Rivers, Sarah A. Rivers; great-grandmother of 7, Edamaris Williams, Edward Williams, Lottie Rivers, Autumn Nichols, Axel Nichols, Ahmya Nichols, Adaya Nichols; Ethel cherished her dear 100 year old aunt, Henrietta Britten, Palatka; and a host other nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

A Service of Remembrance will be held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, February 27th at Flagg's Chapel of Serenity, 2400 Madison Street, Palatka, FL., with Reverend Frederick T. Demps, pastor of Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, officiating. In lieu of flowers, the Rivers family graciously prefers memorial gifts be sent in loving memory of Ethel Mae Rivers: Kids' Voice of Indiana, 9150 Harrison Park Ct Suite C, Indianapolis, IN 46216 ( www.kidsvoicein.org/donations/ ) and/or Haven Hospice, 4200 NW 90th Blvd, Gainesville, FL 32606 (www.beyourhaven.org.)