Mother Constance Mackie

Mother Constance Laverne Mackie was born on January 27, 1932 in Richmond, Virginia to the late Edna Williams and Edward Lee Stovall. She was the second child of three, Leon Ellis Stovall and her twin, Gloria Thelnard Kimble, who preceded her in death. Constance accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized into the First Baptist Church of South Richmond under the leadership of the late Dr. William L. Ransome. It was here that she developed her love for singing gospel music. Constance attended Richmond Public Schools and graduated from Armstrong High School with the Class of 1950. After graduation and as a favor for her parents, she agreed to travel to New York City to deliver a wedding gift to a friend. She fell in love with New York and decided to stay, relocating to Brooklyn. Recognizing her gift for singing, Constance enrolled into the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music for Voice. Her passion for the Lord led Constance to become a member of the Washington Temple Church of God in Christ in the late 1950’s, under the leadership of the late Bishop F.D. Washington. Mother Mackie loved to sing and was often called upon to do the sermonic solo. It was there she met and married the late Elder James Mackie. Desiring to start a family, the couple moved and purchased a home in Saint Albans, Queens. Mother Mackie’s love for children compelled her to become a Licensed Foster Care Mother. Her home became a safe haven for abused children and working mothers who needed daycare. The Mackie home was filled with smiling faces and the sounds of laughter. She taught the children Bible verses, prayers, and took them to church. She claimed Proverbs 22:6 for every child in her care: “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it”. Mother Mackie was also employed by Social Concern as a Home Care Attendant. She found joy in caring for the elderly and witnessing to them about God, often bringing them to church for prayer. In the early 1970’s, Elder and Mother Mackie joined the Pilgrim Baptist Church under the leadership of Bishop Roy E. Brown. They served the ministry faithfully; he as the Associate Minister of the Sunday School, and she as a member of the Radio Choir. In 1999, Mother Mackie became a member of the Second Baptist Church of Baldwin, New York, under the leadership of her son-in-law, Rev. Preston H. Drinks. She served faithfully on the Sanctuary Choir and as a Church Mother until her demise. Mother Mackie impacted so many lives. She was a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a sister, an aunt, a mentor, a counselor, a confidant, a friend, a prayer warrior, and a great listener. She laughed with you, she cried with you, she prayed with you, and sometimes scolded you, but most of all she let you know that God loved you. On one of the last days she was able to speak to her family, she told them not to worry about her and that she was going to be all right. As she lifted up her hands towards heaven, she proclaimed, “I feel all right in my SANCTIFIED SOUL, HALLELUJAH!” Mother Mackie leaves to cherish her precious memory, two daughters; Marilyn Drinks, Jacqueline Curtis, one son; Alexander Mackie; son-in-law; Pastor Preston H. Drinks; daughter-in-law; Catherine Mackie, six grandchildren; Heather Curtis, Tara Drinks, Xavier Drinks, Hennessie Ramos, Miguel Sosa, Camilo James Mackie, one brother; Leon Stovall of Richmond, VA, two nieces; Brenda Riddick, Pamela Kimble, one nephew; Reginald Kimble, all of Richmond, VA; a host of relatives and many devoted friends; among them, Zola Hall, Valerie Kimble, The Phillips Family, Mother Princess Colburn, Allen and Patricia Kee. There were also two special people who lifted her spirit with their hospital comic relief; Kerry Lampkin, and Monique Young. Done In Victory, The Family