Rev. Johnnie Lee McAfee

On Saturday, March 12, 2022, the Pastor emeritus, preacher, father, husband, brother, uncle, and friend that we knew and loved stepped across the threshold of death. His passing took a step into another room, a step into Father’s house. On this date, the angel of silence came into the home of Rev. Johnnie Lee McAfee AKA “Melvin” and with chilly fingers sealed the lips of this beloved man. His soul winged its flight from this world of sin, noise, sorrow, and pain. For the past few years, he had been in poor health and bore it without complaining. It was God’s will that he should now step into eternity and into one of the rooms in His house. We must not mourn as those without hope, for Rev. Johnnie Lee McAfee has gone to get the great reward promised to all who faithfully serve our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Johnnie Lee McAfee was born on August 13, 1928, to the union of the late Henry and Alberta McAfee in Dekalb, Mississippi, the eldest of fourteen siblings. He worked at an early age helping his parents provide for the family. He was a farmer and loved growing vegetables. He was employed at Bendix, a driver for Eau Claire Public Schools and a driver for Berrien County Public Transit Transportation.

He accepted Christ at an early age and preached his first sermon at the age of twenty-five in 1953. On September 18, 1955, Rev. Johnnie McAfee was ordained into the ministry as a Baptist Minister. at Beautiful Gate Baptist Church. The late Rev. Charlie Jones, Sr. served as the Moderator. He labored in the ministry for sixty-nine years. During that time, he pastored churches in Michigan and Mississippi: MT. Zion, Dowagiac, MI, Morning Star Baptist Church, Eau Claire, MI., Israelite Baptist Church, Benton Harbor, MI. (18 years). He relocated his family to Dekalb, Mississippi where he pastored the New Salem Baptist Church and Oak Grove Baptist Church. He received his training at the Chicago Baptist Seminary, The Voice of Prophecy. In 2019, he received an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Christian Counseling from Beulah Bible College & Seminary, Elkhart, Indiana. Johnnie received other certificates of training. Rev. Johnnie McAfee was a “Bible Scholar”

In 1947, he united in marriage with the late Ruth Ella Cole McAfee. To this union there were five girls and six boys. They raised a special and loving granddaughter, Lathesia McAfee, and one grandson Mark McAfee as their own, and Willie Demus Clark.

After forty-nine years of marriage, and a lengthy illness, Ruth passed away. On August 12, 2000, he married Sheila Govain. They shared twenty-one and a half years together. John is survived by his wife Sheila, children, Barbara McDavid, North Las Vegas, NV, Colleen McAfee (John) Hale, Fullerton, CA, Ruthy (Billy) Cyrus, Fontana, CA, Shirley (Gill Gamez) McAfee, Serivelle, TN, Wade McAfee, Las Vegas, NV; Raymond (Chong) McAfee Washington State, Tracey (Frances) McAfee, Minneapolis, MN, Gregory McAfee, and Mark (Keena)McAfee, Benton Harbor, MI, and Lathesia (Victor) Hobson, Atlanta, GA. , Todd Jason Govain, Chicago, IL, Tolby Govain, Hartford, MI., and Garret Govain, Hutchinson, Ks. Six sisters, Mildred Adams, Grand Rapids, MI., Mattie Greene, Los Angeles, CA, Mavis Rodgers, Shreveport, LA, Sue McAfee, Benton Harbor, MI., Faye Hill, Houston Texas and Bobbie Wright, Eau Claire, MI. Three brothers, Rev. Fletcher (Thomasine) McAfee, Benton Harbor, MI., Rev. Willard (Jennie) McAfee, Shreveport, LA, and Hulon (Charlie) McAfee, Niles, MI.

Rev. Johnnie McAfee was preceded in death by his parents Henry and Alberta McAfee, a brother Henry McAfee, Jr., his first wife Ruth, children, Riley McAfee, Johnny Ray McAfee, and Mary Anthony; brothers, Henry McAfee Jr, Willie Jim McAfee, Rev. Milton P. McAfee, and sister Pauline Hightower, and a special sister-n-law, Pearlie Cole. John has a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews and friends and a special nephew, Laval Hunter, who shall mourn his passing.

A special thanks to his care givers, Bobbie Wright, Shirley McAfee, Starlea Robinson, Gregory McAfee, and his nurse, Ktozake (Yaki) Cooper.