Iona Deal

January 10, 1929 - December 19, 2020

Evangelist Mother Iona C. Deal, 91 years of age born into this world January 10, 1929 to her loving parents, the late Bettie and Percy Davis of Little Rock Mississippi. She was preceded in death by seven brothers, Jim Davis, Werther Davis, Bobbie Davis, Lawrence Davis, L.C. Davis, and Louvett Davis; four sisters, Callie Davis, Elaine Bazille, Evangelist Cornelia Littlejohn and Evangelist Lela Walker. Evangelist Mother Iona C. Deal, moved to Chicago and met the love of her life, Bishop Melvin R. Deal. On September 6. 1951, Evangelist Mother Iona C. and Bishop Melvin R Deal were united in holy matrimony. Evangelist Mother Iona C. Deal, in early 1950, she entered the doors of Bethlehem Healing Temple where she and Bishop Melvin Deal received the baptism in Jesus name and the precious gift of the Holy Ghost. They both worked faithfully by the side of their leaders, Bishop Charles E. and Evangelist Mattie B. Poole. Her anointing and willingness to work opened many doors for her ministry. Evangelist Mother Iona C. Deal, served many positions faithfully in Bethlehem Healing Temple and the Living Witnesses of the Apostolic Faith Churches organization. In 1969, God led Bishop Melvin R. and Evangelist Mother Iona C Deal to Hopkins Park, Illinois, where they bought land and began to build a church with their own hands. It was the early summer when Evangelist Mother Iona C. Deal, laid the first brink and prayed “Nothing but the pure in heart shall enter these doors.” She continued to work tirelessly to make sure that there was a place to receive healing in Hopkins Park, Illinois. This place of refuge is called Christ Healing Temple of the Apostolic Faith, where she was the Mother and Assistant Pastor until she entered her rest. Evangelist Mother Iona C. Deal, was an anointed woman of God that touched thousands of souls. She ministered in tent revivals for many years traveling throughout the United States. She was a powerful traveling Evangelist that touched many through her gift of healing, deliverance, and prophecy. She even had one completed book and one uncompleted book of Living Witnesses, a book of received testimonies of numerous healings and deliverances through the laying on of hands and prayer cloths. Evangelist Mother Iona C. Deal, was a woman of prayer, and would spend her time praying, singing signing in the spirit, and making prayer cloths to send all over the world. She was a woman that wore many hats from teaching the woman of God how to be virtuous woman, to teaching you how to fish. She loved fishing, listening to her Bible tapes, gardening, shopping, and her grandchildren. She raised her one daughter the late Irene Cole, one son, Melvin Deal; 4 grandsons, Melvin Shaw, Sidney Lilly, the late Jesse Lilly, and Darryl Smith; 2 granddaughters, the late Nina Love and Vicki Shaw; and great-grandson, Damieon Shaw. Her home was always open for summers and weekends to all her great-grandchildren. On December 19, 2020 Evangelist Mother Iona C. Deal, left from labor and entered into her reward. She leaves to cherish her memories; her husband, Bishop Melvin Deal; one sister, Mother Kedzie Wade; one son, Melvin Deal; her special rescued son, Damieon Shaw; granddaughter & caregiver, Vicki Shaw; grandsons, Melvin Shaw, Sidney Lilly, & Darryl Smith; 7 additional grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren, and 35 great-great-grandchildren; a host of nieces, great-nieces, nephew, great-nephews, relatives, spiritual sons, spiritual daughters, brothers and sisters in Christ. In the word of Mother Iona C. Deal, “I love you and aint a things you can do about it.”