Etta Geraldine Stevens McIntyre was born November 10, 1933 in Wayne County to Homer Stevens and Etta Devaughn Stevens Thompson. She had two brothers William Hardy Stevens and James Homer Stevens. She also had two sisters Josephine Stevens and Ruth Stevens Hatcher.

Etta, or Bae, as she was affectionately called by her family, attended school in Wayne County. She graduated from Dillard High School is 1952. After graduation she attended Shaw University where she majored in Education.

Etta met and married Earl McIntyre, Sr. on December 10, 1956. He preceded her in death on February 13, 2006. Earl was enlisted in the U.S. Army. To this union five children were born: Aleasa “Celeste” McIntyre Sappington; Vivica McIntyre, Sabrina McIntyre, Earl “Timmy” McIntyre Jr.  and Sean McIntyre. Etta had seven grandchildren: Earl McIntyre III, Christopher McIntyre Sappington, Jordan McIntyre, Siobhan McIntyre, Seandoria M. McIntyre, Sean McIntyre Jr. and Ettia McIntyre; two special friends Rodney Cook and Nathaniel Neal.

The family traveled to and lived in Hawaii and Butzbach, Germany. They also lived in New York, Kentucky, and South Carolina and eventually retired in Goldsboro, NC after completing a tour of duty in Vietnam.

Etta was an outstanding mother. She was very selfless. She always put the needs of her family before her own. She and Earl often took people into their home when people had no place else to go. We could come home from out of town and find someone sleeping in our rooms. Etta was a very quiet and elegant lady who loved the Lord. Every night before she went to sleep she could be found sitting on her bed reading her Bible, her favorite book. Momma we love you. No one anywhere could ever have asked for a better “Mommy.”