Ms. Rachel Mae Styles, 80, Remembered
Cars zoomed along Wade Hampton Boulevard on a beautiful day at 2:00 p.m., Friday, Oct. 23, 2026. A graveside service for Ms. Rachel Mae Styles, 80, unfolded near the thoroughfare fronting Hillcrest Memory Gardens in Greer, SC.
A small crowd gathered around family members sitting inside a tent. Pastor Raymond Burrows of Faith Temple said, “We’re going to celebrate the life of a dear and precious lady, Ms. Rachel Styles… Let’s bow in prayer.”
Mr. Steve Evans sang “Amazing Grace.”
Ms. Rachel passed on Oct. 18, 2026, at her home—the home of her sister, Ms. Joanne Wilson and her brother-in-law, Ken Wilson. A Faith Temple member, she loved and devoted her life to her church.
A Greenville County native, Ms. Rachel was the older daughter of the late Hubert M. and Thelma Wilbanks Styles. She is survived by her sister and brother-in-law of the home; a nephew, Robert Wilson of Austin, Texas; and two great nieces, Hazel Wilson and Lilah Wilson. The family thanks Rachel’s Aunt Shirley Benton for years of loving care she gave to Rachel.
“Ms. Rachel turned 80 last January,” Pastor said. “Ive heard her say many times, ‘I love Faith Temple.’… I guess it was 31 years ago that I met Ms. Rachel at church.” He told of her help with Children’s Ministry.
He read from Corinthians: “But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” The word “victory” describes Ms. Rachel, who became a powerful representation of the Savior she loved, he said. Rachel worked with church children, handed out bulletins, and attended Golden Age meetings.
“I can’t tell you how many times she said to me, ‘Brother Burrows, I love to help,’” Pastor said. “She loved to help in the Lord’s work, and that became a passion with her… I’ve often said to our people, ‘Every one is equally important and valued in the Family of God.’ Everyone has the ability to contribute, and Ms. Rachel did so in a wonderful way. I have many memories of her just wanting to be a part.”
Pastor told of Rachel’s breech-birth complications that caused intellectual disability. She was bluish-black in color at birth, had trouble breathing, and was not expected to live. She had convulsions as a child. At age eight, a high fever resulted in a hospital stay with her being packed in ice! A rash revealed chickenpox. She had many physical difficulties. Allergic to bee stings as a teenager, she was stung 15 times by yellow jackets and survived. In her 20s, she began having seizures. During a hospital visit, she told a doctor, “I do not need any medicine. The Lord has healed me of seizures.” Her sister says Rachel had no more seizures after that.
During a harrowing experience, Rachel obeyed her father rather than fear a physical threat on her life from a man invading her and her parents’ home.
Rachel created potholders to give to people. She regularly phoned many folk and offered prayers. Pastor said her calls to him went like this: “Brother Burrows, may I pray with you?” “You may,” he said. Then Rachel prayed, “Dear Lord, heal Brother Burrows. Give him good strength. In Jesus’s name. Amen.”
“Those are the kinds of prayers that register in heaven!” Pastor said.
“Even in her last days, Rachel, when asked how she was doing, she would say, ‘I’m fine,’” Pastor said, quoting Rachel’s sister and Aunt Shirley.
Ms. Rachel had dementia for an extended time as her passing neared. Ms. Joanne cared for Rachel in her home, and Ms. Joanne had also previously cared for their mother, who had dementia before she passed.
Pastor told of Ms. Joanne “putting her life on the shelf” for Rachel’s sake. “May the Lord bless you,” he said to Joanne. “I salute you… Thank you for what you did for Ms. Rachel.” He also thanked Mr. Ken, Joanne’s husband, and Ms. Shirley Benton, Rachel’s aunt, for their sacrifices.
“Ms. Rachel is now sitting at the Lord’s table,” Pastor said.
Brother Evans sang “It Is Well with My Soul” and Pastor Burrows prayed as the service ended.
Memorials may be made to Faith Temple, 5080 Sandy Flat Road, Taylors, SC 29687.
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