Viola Malcolm was an evangelist. Her family said she was a strong, virtuous woman. She was stern but compassionate. Her family said she was always caring towards others, and sharing.

After a major car accident in September of 1982 in Fayetteville, N.C., she became paralyzed from the fourth vertebrate. Malcolm lost movement from mid torso on down. However, this did not stop her from praying, prophesying and ministering to people wherever she went.

Malcolm died on Jan. 31. She was 83.

Malcolm was the daughter of Frank Bradley and Ada Slappy in Coatesville. She was one of eight children. Much like her mother, she loved to sew and dress fashionably. Her father passed on to her the talents of art, music and preaching the Gospel.

She received her full education in the Coatesville School District until she graduated. She soon met and married Bobbie Lester Malcolm, a Mason who served in the Korean War and who was a member of the NAACP.

She relocated to Bridgeton, N.J. and raised a family. She had 14 children though some of them were complicated births.

Malcolm began working in the Bridgeton Hospital and preaching at local churches which introduced her call to God. After this, her husband became ill with cancer. She took care of him until he died.

In the late 1960s, Malcolm relocated to Philadelphia. She united with Deliverance Evangelistic Church who took the family in and gave them a new start.

She then sought out avenues to fulfill her career in theology. She received her degree in evangelism from the Dr. Howard Jameson Bible Institute. It was through her father’s preaching, playing the piano and organ, and making crosses that he donated to churches that she formed her style in God. Her father invited her to preach at the churches in Hayti located outside of Coatesville. She also preached in many churches throughout Philadelphia.

Malcolm was a member of Apostle Prophet Joel Charleston’s church and served on the Mother’s Board under pastor Selma Allison of the Holy Ground Church in South Philadelphia. Her family said she spoke in tongue and prophesy and that she performed many miracles including praying for a blind girl who later received her sight.

Her family said she also loved knitting and crocheting. She enjoyed making her own dolls, clothing, hats, pocket books, shawls, scarves, gloves and boots. She had a heart for missionary work and collaborated with televangelist Peter Popoff and the Benny Hinn Ministries. Before she took ill, she had plans to donate her own personal, hand-crafted dolls to Rod Parsley Ministries to be transported to underprivileged children in Africa.

Malcolm leaves to mourn: children, Marcus L. Malcolm (Christina), Leonard Malcolm (Florence), Shirley Langron (Mikel), Roland Malcolm, Kosmoe Malcolm (Sharon), Vincent Malcolm (Ernestine) and Howard Malcolm; three siblings, James “Buster” Bradley, Frances Craven and Sheron Bradley; 23 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Malcolm was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Bobbie Malcolm; and three siblings, Louis Bradley Jones, Joyce Hines and Dorothy Bradley.

Services will be held Feb. 11 at the First Baptist Church of Passtown, 117 Barber Ave, Coatesville. The viewing will be at 9 a.m. The service will start at 10.

Wright Funeral & Cremation Services handled the arrangements.