Ms. Faye Velissa Hunter, 62 of WPB, FL, peacefully went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, January 11, 2020 at her residence, surrounded by the love her family, in an atmosphere of tearful praise and thanksgiving.
She was the first girl of twins, that was born to the parents of the late Dozier Hunter and Carrie Frinks-Hunter in WPB, FL on November 11, 1957. Survivors to follow.
At birth, doctors discovered Faye was totally blind, born without an optic nerve. She was also diagnosed with severe scoliosis and cerebral palsy, and they told her parents not to expect her to live 2 weeks. Because of her parent’s strong faith in God, they took her to an Oral Roberts revival in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Her parents felt the power of God when Evangelist Roberts prayed for her, and because of their faith and God’s healing power, her sight was restored.
Her life has been one of tender loving care and a constant miracle because she has defeated all medical odds. She lived in Jupiter, Florida, until the death of her mother in 1989, and afterwards became a well-loved member of the Etheredge household in West Palm Beach.
Faye loved to listen to music and watch TV, but her favorite pastime was turning pages in a colorful catalog. One of the family traditions was to have her hold all babies born into the family. She has attended summer camp at Camp Challenge in Sorrento, FL; high school games, college graduations, family reunions and loved to go to the mall and the South County Fair. Her quick smile and laugh will be missed by her family. Her niece Regina, nephew Tristan, and family friend were always able to make her laugh out loud, and her nephew, Willie, always managed to get her to use her right hook. Her nieces and nephews always made her birthdays special by gathering at home to ice cream cake.
Faye along with Bernie Wallace were the original recipients of The Friendly Travelers Club of Martin and Palm Beach Counties.
Faye was one of the three founding clients of the James T. Howell Center for the profoundly disabled in West Palm Beach. Due to the rapid growth of the center, it relocated to 45th Street, and is now known as Exceptionalities. She was a participant in the program for 25 years, 1994-2019. At Exceptionalities, her life was enhanced by staff members, Ralph Pittman, Patricia Greenlee, Cristal Brydegaard and therapist, Kathy Collister. At home she was blessed to have amazing and loving caregivers, Gloria Denson, Lily Thomas, Idia Arietta and Guerda Donescart.
Even though she attended the Jupiter Church of God since birth, she became a bonafide member on Sunday, August 6, 1989, and was baptized Sunday, September 24, 1989, under the leadership of Bishop John Thorne. She remained a member at Jupiter under the leadership of Bishop Jerry Pugh, Bishop Michael Reid and Reverend Donald Adamson. She later became a member of the River Church of God in West Palm Beach, Florida, under the leadership of Bishop Michael W. Smith on September 14, 2014, and remained a member until her transition.
On Saturday morning, January 11 at 6:40 a.m., Faye transitioned from this life to her Heavenly home. She was preceded in death by her twin, Kaye Melissa Hunter; parents, Dozier and Carolyn Hunter; brother, James Hunter; twin sisters, Joan Hunter, Janet Hunter; Deborah Hunter, Velma Hunter; nephew, Erik Etheredge and niece Alonzette Brinson.
She leaves to cherish precious memories a loving and devoted sister and brother-in-law, Iris & Edward Etheredge of West Palm Beach; sisters, Christine Hunter-Hodge of Jupiter; and Wilma Hunter of Atlanta, GA; brothers, Dozier Hunter of Apple Valley, MN; Vincent Hunter of El Dorado Hills, CA; nephews, Scott Porter (Bonnie) and Shane Porter (Monica) of Lawrenceville, GA; Edward D. Etheredge (Kourtnii) of Riviera Beach; Willie Mitchell III of Lithonia, GA; Jacobi Hunter of Jupiter, FL; Corey Hunter of Riviera Beach; Percy Horne of West Palm Beach, Collin Horne of Tucker, GA; Dakkar Hunter and Julien Hunter of Riverside, CA; Devin Hunter of Sacramento, CA; Joshua Bahn, Nathan Bahn, Aaron Bahn of St. Paul, MN; Andrew Hunter of Apple Valley, MN; nieces, Regina Bernard of Royal Palm Beach, Keisha Powell (Roderick) of Kennesaw, GA; Dr. Kali Etheredge-Alteus (Richard) of West Palm Beach; Carolyn Horne of West Palm Beach; Ariel Hunter of Elk Grove, CA; Pier Devoe (Devin) of Stone Mountain, GA; paternal uncle, Matthew Vaughn (Willa); paternal uncles, Daisy Vaughn of Lawrenceville, GA; Rosetta Vaughn of Matawan, NJ; numerous grandnieces, grandnephews, cousins and a loving church family of The River Church of God, West Palm Beach; special friends, Shana English, Evangelist Edna Runner and Annie Conway.
Faye will await the resurrection at Mt. Carmel Memorial Park in Jupiter.