Genevieve Hurst - Session

Genevieve Birth to Servant Leadership

  Genevieve Hurst-Session was born January 16, 1934, in Sumter, South Carolina to the proud parents of the late Augustus (Gus) Mickens and Amelia Dubose Mickens Martin. Genevieve was called to eternal glory on May 28, 2026, during her brief stay at Novant Medical Center in Huntersville, North Carolina. She was raised in Wilmington, North Carolina and completed her formal education at Williston High School in 1954. During her four years at Williston High, she was active in various extracurricular activities: the N.H.A, Y-Teens, Annual Staff, Alpha Kappa Alpha Debutante, voted most sophisticated amongst her senior class and awarded with a certificate of distinction from the Superintendent of Schools for attending an entire school year without being tardy or absent. After completing her formal education, she joined the United States Air Force and was stationed at Camp Parks Air Force Base in Pleasanton, California. Upon completing her Air Force tour of duty, she continued to serve the American people for more than three decades at U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) in Oakland, California. The most impactful part of her legacy was her time spent serving her country during the Jim Crow Era. Like the brave and heroic African American women soldiers who served in the Women’s Army Corps. (WAC) in 1948 Genevieve stood on their shoulders and abandoned her childhood inspiration to become a florist to serve the American people, during a time she could not share in the equitable opportunities of voting rights and many other liberties that Americans had access to. Being a public servant through her time in the Air Force and working with GSA was the highlight of her life. She was proud and honored to serve her country.

Genevieve the Wife, Mother and Grandmother

  In 1957 she was introduce and later married the late Charles Andrew Hurst whom she cherished as the love of her life. Charles was the proud father of ten children whom she loved and sometimes reared as her own. After several attempts at childbirth, in the hot summer of July 1967 in Oakland, California the joy of her life entered the world, her daughter and bundle of joy Christina L. Hurst. In addition to being a new mother, she had a significant role in being mother and grandmother to Beaudine Hurst - Hill and her two children Maurice and Shannon Hill and later that same affection was passed on to her grandson Sammie J. Stroughter. She also had a wonderful affection and cherished many memories for her sons and daughters in Vallejo and Monrovia, California.

  In the early 2000’s she met and married Deacon Cornelius Session Sr. a wonderful God-fearing man who shared her love for serving his country through the U.S. Army and U.S. Postal Service for more than twenty years. Through this union she was blessed to inherit six wonderful children and grandchildren who have treated her as they would treat their own mother and grandmother. They have adopted her daughter Chris as their little sister and have continued to support and love both Genevieve, Chris and the grandchildren for more than 20 years after the passing of their father.

  Genevieve was known as Ms. Genny to the world but, mama to Christina whom she affectionally called Chris. In the formative years of growing up she made deep sacrifices for her daughter to attend Catholic school from pre-K through twelfth grade. She gave her daughter the best and later raised her as a single parent in a home she owned and took meticulous care of. Mama and Chris shared special moments frequently visiting the Oakland Zoo, Lake Merritt, Fairyland and Knowland Park in the early years. She made sure that Chris was exposed to culture and life experiences that would later allow her to own, develop and mature as an entrepreneur for more than two decades. She was a mother of wisdom and a nurturer who always reminded her daughter of how much she loved her. Mama and Chris shared a pastime of joking and laugh with and at each other with silly jokes only they could understand. What is most memorable are the countless holidays with loads of people eating Louisiana Gumbo (inspired by Charlie Hurst) Red Beans and Rice and her favorite hot water cornbread. No doubt these cherished traditions she passed down to her daughter and to this day the kitchen is full of love and memories from mama’s recipes. Mama was famous for knowing just about everything, and when Chris would ask her, “how you know that mama?” she would quickly defend herself and say, “I read up on it”. She read, underscored and highlighted every book or article she got her hands on and no doubt she passed that trait on to her daughter Chris who has a deep love for reading and learning. The most treasured memory will be the times sitting at the kitchen table reading the bible and listening to her pour out wisdom and reading her self published handwritten papers of her transcriptions of the attributes of God. Chris was blessed and honored to serve as primary caregiver to her mother for almost a decade. Every moment was a cherished one until May 28th, 2026, when God called her home.

  Genevieve also loved being a grandmother to her eight grandchildren, Sam, Shannon, Danielle, Isaiah, Jeremiah and Erin (CeCe) and her great-grandson Braxton (Que), Maurice Hill and Shannon Hill Garcia. Affectionally known as Granny she served in various roles and wore many different hats; daycare, homework specialist, chef, disciplinarian, taxi, and the biggest supporter at end of the year recitals, choir and various events the children took part in. Her favorite pastime with the grandchildren was singing old school songs, country and western “You got to know when to hold ‘em” by Kenny Rodgers and watching a million re-runs of Steve Harvey hosting the family feud, Murder She Wrote, The Golden Girls, In the Heat of the Night and Jeopardy. She also had a special love and admiration for her son-in-love William Lee. She and William shared a very special bond from the beginning to the end of her life. She trusted him for nearly 40 years to serve as a spiritual covering to her daughter and grandchildren. Her favorite pastime with William was watching old television classics. Until the end of her life William served as the best son-in-law in the world sharing in the care of his mother-in-love and most recent hospice nurse as he stayed by her bedside until the end.

Genevieve the Friend

   Genevieve was known as Genny to her closest friends. All would agree that once she adopted you as a friend it was for life. Genny will be remembered as one who would give her last to support those she loved, she cared for many children who were not her own and had long lasting relationships spanning over seven decades. Notable friends that meant the most to her were Little Jenny and Mr. Lee, Uncle Carl and Aunt Pansy Davidson, Robbie Anderson, Renee Burton, Ms. Lucille, Evelyn Cook (GSA) Robert Sparks (Williston High), The Lane Family, Charles and Joan Baptiste. There were countless others who crossed her path and if time and space permitted, I’m sure they would say she was as committed to her friends as she was to her family.

Geneva The Sister and New Creature in Christ

  Genevieve was known as Geneva to her mother, father, sisters and brothers. She had a deep love for her South Carolina family and shared a special bond with her two sisters Ruth Henry and Ada Brunson. Although she spent most of her life in the great state of California, she had a special love for Sumpter, S.C. and she will be cherished by many who knew her and called her friend. The most important life event took place in Sumter, S.C. where she placed her faith in a committed relationship with Jesus Christ as her savior and was committed to her local church community until her health would no longer allow her to serve in ministry. She is now resting in the eternal state of heaven awaiting her glorified body. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.

  Genevieve leaves to cherish her memories: Children: Christina Hurst Lee (Min. William Lee) Marilyn Bradford (Theo), Charles Greory Hurst (Connie), Marie Hurst, Russell Hurst (Adrienne), Patricia Hurst, Joyce Chavis, Byron Hurst (Linda), Beaudine Hurst Hill, Lavada Hurst Anderson, Bobbie Jean Jefferson, Cathy Brown, Cythina Mouzon (Edward), Ernest Session (Marva), Ann Session, and Marcus Session; Grandchildren: Sammie J. Stroughter, Shannon Lee (Jarrod), Danielle Lee, Isaiah Lee, Jeremiah Lee, Erin Lee, Shannon Hill-Garcia (Gabe), and Maurice Hill. Great-grands: Braxton Elijah Quindell Golden, Shane Daniels, and Mariana Fasion; Session Grandchildren: Tana Session (Dana), Tia Davis (Born) Monique Mouzon, Michael Session (Diamon), Kendall Session, Monica Session, Cornelius Session III, Sheritta Session, and a host of grand and great and great-great grandchildren in Northern and Southern California. Siblings: James Martin of Philadelphia, Raymond Martin of Sumter S.C., Samuel Martin of Sumter S.C., and William Martin (WD) of Sumter S.C. Godchildren: Regina Peters-Radway (Milton), and Michael Davidson (Stacy), and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives.

  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by: Two marriage unions: Charles Hurst, and Deacon Cornelius Session Jr. Three brothers: Gus Mickens, Marion Martin, Roachelle Martin Jr, and Four sisters: Essie Mae Martin, Annie Lee Mickens, Ruth Henry, and Lucy Hickman and loving bonus father Roachelle Martin Sr.