Ethel Louise (Knight) Rivers was born on March 21,1947 to Ida Mae (Sherrod) Knight and James Horrace Knight in Tarboro, North Carolina. She was educated in the Tarboro school system and graduated with high honors being granted a full scholarship to North Carolina Central University majoring in English and minoring in drama; she also pledged Delta Sigma Theta, Inc., Alpha Lambda Chapter, and was a member of the Pan Hellenic Council. Ethel received her Masters in Education from George Washington University.  She then settled in the DC area working as an English Teacher at Charles Hart Jr. High School for most of her career.

Ethel met and fell in love with Paul Lee Rivers, Sr.  They were joined in holy matrimony on June 15, 1974, and remained happily married for 43 years until Paul departed in the summer of 2017.

Ethel was very involved with her Hart teaching community and met monthly to celebrate birthdays.  She also enjoyed reading, cooking, dancing, and playing slots, but most importantly she loved spending time with her loved ones and her dog (Sir Tiny).  She always made it a point to make anyone who visited her home feel as if it were theirs.  Additionally, Ethel fought and won a battle against breast cancer.

Ethel transitioned in the early morning of September 27th at the age of 77 after a very long battle with Alzheimer's disease.  She is survived by her three sons: Terence Earl Knight, Paul Lee Rivers, Jr. (Ursula), and Derek Lee Rivers Sr., 6 grand-children, and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.

Viewing, 8:30 a.m., Tuesday, October 15, 2024, until time of Service, 9:00 a.m., at Fort Foote Baptist Church, 8310 Fort Foote Road, Fort Washington, Maryland 20744. Interment, Maryland Veterans Cemetery, 11301 Crain Highway, Cheltenham, Maryland 20623.

Per the family, please send all flowers to Fort Foote Baptist Church on Tuesday, October 15th, between 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., you may send cards to the Funeral Home before the Service or you may give cards to the family on the day of Service. Thank you!