Ms. Jeanie McGee

Jeanie Mae King McGee was born on April 5, 1925 to the parents of John H. King and Mary Woodard King in Leflore County, Itta Bena, Mississippi on a plantation about a half a mile outside of town. She was one of seven children (Sadly, two of the seven children died at a young age). Her five surviving siblings gave her the nickname of “Bootsy”. She accepted Christ at an early age. She excelled at writing and loved to read and write poems. She attended the Leflore County Training School for eleven years. She completed high school at Campbell College, Jackson, Mississippi on May 24, 1945 after marrying the Reverend Ellis Lawrence McGee on May 6, 1942. During the early years of their marriage, Jeanie was a true “Preacher’s Wife”. She faithfully accompanied Rev. McGee to several pastoral assignments in Mississippi and Louisiana before “planting roots” in Humphreys County, Belzoni ,Miss. in 1955 where she taught at O.M. McNair School. She taught school for approximately 10 years prior to graduating from Mississippi Vocational College on August 6, 1961 with a Bachelor of Science Degree. It took her almost 10 years to finish college because she could only attend during the summer months when elementary school was not in session. On March 25, 1964, Jeanne Lynette was born. Shortly after Jeanne’s birth, Rev. McGee was transferred to New Bethel A.M.E. Church in Springhill, Louisiana and prior to his death on May 25, 1973 he was assigned to Turner Chapel and Heard Chapel in Shreveport, Louisiana. Jeanie spent those years traveling back and forth to Louisiana ensuring that she supported Rev. McGee as his “First Lady” while still maintaining her teaching career in Belzoni. She taught for 33 years lower elementary education in the Humphreys County, Mississippi school system. She retired in May 1987. During her teaching career she touched the lives of hundreds of children. Many of them who would come back to visit her and would express their gratitude for her vested interest in them. She always cherished the friendships of students, administrators and teachers established during her tenure. Jeanie was not only a “Preacher’s Wife but she was a faithful servant of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. She was a member of New Zion A.M.E. Church for over 50 years. During her membership at New Zion, she served as Youth Leader, Choir member, Sunday School Teacher and Superintendent, Women’s Missionary President, Steward and Treasurer. In 2006, she was recognized for her dedication to the A.M.E. church by being appointed a Deaconess of the A.M.E. church and just recently in December of 2013 she was recognized as a Women’s Missionary Trailblazer by the Greenville/Greenwood, Mississippi Women’s Missionary Society. In March 2012, as Jeanie’s health fail, her daughter relocated her to Lithonia, Georgia where she resided at Traditions Health & Rehab facility until her passing on Wednesday, May 14, 2014. Jeanie was affectionately known by her nieces and nephews as “Lil Auntie”. She was also known for her quick wit and charm. She was often asked to speak at church and other special events. She usually was the life of the party because she knew an abundant number of jokes. She never knew a stranger and could strike up a conversation with anyone. She had a caring and giving heart and lived by the mantra “If I can help somebody along the way, then my living will not be in vain.” She was preceded in death by her mother, Mary Woodard King; father, John H. King; nephew Gerald W. Knox; sister, Johnnie M. Knox; brother, Lacey Charles (L.C) King; niece, Marva Jean Mitchell Westbrook. She is survived by her daughter, Jeanne Lynette McGee Overby and granddaughter, Candice Natasha Overby of Norcross, Georgia; Sister, Florence Adams of Chicago, Illinois; Brother, Johnnye W. King of Chicago, Illinois; Sister-in-law, Sarah King of Jackson, Mississippi; several nieces and nephews and a vast number of relatives and friends.

Tributes

Ms. Jeanie McGee

April 5, 1925 - May 14, 2014