Hello again, friends and family! We wanted to share the details of the memorial service we will be holding for our beautiful mother, Tami Mace Urbina. 

 

Below is the text of the obituary written beautifully by her sister Lisa Tweed. At the bottom are the details for the service, and included here as well:

 

January 25, 2024 at 1pm EST

Immanuel Bible Church in Springfield, VA

Reception to follow. We hope to see our friends and family who have loved her so deeply throughout the years.

 

-the Urbina Family

 

Tamara Sue Mace Urbina, of Columbia South Carolina went to be with her Lord and Savior on November 15th, 2023, after a long and hard-fought battle of an auto-immune disease. In the days leading to her homecoming, she was surrounded by her family and those she loved so very well throughout her life.

 

Tamara, best known as Tami was born on July 25th, 1964, to Frederick and Dorothy Mace in Key West Florida. Tami was born into a military family which afforded her the opportunity to live in many places throughout her early years. One of those favorite places was Honolulu Hawaii. It was there that she sang like a song bird, relished the warm sand on her feet and recommitted her life to Christ as a young teen. Each military move she was quick to make friends and slow to let go of her previous ones. She was a loyal friend to all, finding the best attributes in a person and reminding them of their value. She continued to be that kind of friend through adulthood. Tami graduated from Lake Braddock High School in 1982. She attended Geneva College just prior to spreading her wings in the workplace as a young adult. She was a great communicator with an infectious laugh in the workplace.

 

It wasn’t long before young Tami met the love of her life Steve Urbina, a Naval Graduate from the U. S. Naval Academy of Annapolis Maryland.  Steve and Tami were married in May of 1987 at the United States Naval Academy. Their first home together was South Carolina. Steve was a faithful husband and gracious father to their three children. Their family eventually settled in Purcellville Virginia upon retirement from military service of the United States Marine Corps. Purcellville was home for twenty-nine years to the Urbina family. Tami and Steve’s recent move back to South Carolina was to be the start of their retirement years together. Tami loved the warm weather, song birds, southern hospitality, sweet tea, and Crepe myrtle trees of the south. She was excited for retirement together as a couple.

 

Tami’s passion was people. She loved people of all walks of life. She loved to hear their stories, learn more about them and minister to them. Her gift was hospitality and she practiced it often. While Tami’s illness limited her a great deal, she was always up for a visitor. She was known to say, “If you want to come over and see a clean house, give me notice, otherwise just come on in the front door is open.” Tami served sweet tea to all. She was famous for her pumpkin chocolate chip cookies while also famous for serving Dorito scrambled eggs to overnight guests.

 

Tami’s first love was for that of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She was a faithful servant to Him by being committed to regular church attendance, daily prayer and scripture reading. She loved to share the gospel with all those she came across. While Tami was long suffering in her illness, she was a wonderful example of trusting God through her daily trials.

 

Her second love was that of her family. She honored her husband in word and action and was married for thirty-seven years. She was a committed mother to their three children Tim, Lauren, and Adam. Tami was granted twenty years to help raise their children after her first diagnosis at age thirty-nine.  She was able to witness each of their children’s high school, and college graduations. She attended the marriages of their son Tim and daughter Lauren. Tami welcomed and loved with her whole heart her daughter in law Annie and son in law Pejmahn. The apple of her eye was her granddaughter, Sofia. Tami loved all the little children in her life. Those who were most privileged had the honor of calling her “Lovey”. Tami loved her extended family. She was a faithful and loving daughter, sister, niece, and cousin.

 

Tami had a sweet and trusting spirit. She was a discerning woman who was insightful in council.  She endured much with an unwavering faith. She was wise beyond her years and was a beautiful ambassador for God’s kingdom. Her gracious presence, vibrant personality, smile and laugh will be so missed by all of her family and all those who have known her. She leaves us with precious memories and much to contemplate.

 

Tami is predeceased by her father Frederick Earl Jr. who died in October 1996. She is survived by her husband Steven Urbina, her children Timothy Urbina, his wife Annie and daughter Sofia. She is survived by daughter Lauren Urbina Keshavarz and husband Pejmahn Keshavarz, and son Adam Urbina. Surviving also is her mother Dorothy Mace of Gouldsboro, Maine and her two sisters: Lisa Tweed of Madison Connecticut and Amy Looman of St. Johns Florida. Tami has left behind many Aunts, Uncles, In-laws, Cousins, Nieces and Nephews as well. She looks forward to seeing each of them in Eternity.  

 

A private family burial was held for Tami on November 24th at the Ebenezer Cemetery in Bluemont Virginia. Tami rests in the place she called home for most of her adult life.

A Celebration of Life service is set for Thursday, January 25th, 2024 at 1:00 at Immanuel Bible Church in Springfield Virginia. A reception will follow.