Reverend Charlie Mae Jones McDonald was born in Calvert, TX on January 15, 1936 to the parents of Fannie Mae and Charlie Jones. She is oldest of nine children. She accepted Christ and joined Little Oak Grove Baptist Church in Calvert, TX at an early age.
Charlie Mae matriculated through Calvert Colored Spigner High School and went on to obtain a Master’s Degree in Education from Paul Quinn University in Waco, TX where she joined the sorority, Sigma Gamma Rho.
On July 10, 1955, she married the late Hollie L. McDonald, Jr at Zion Hill Baptist in Marlin, TX. To that union were born four sons – Gregory McDonald, Sr; Keith McDonald, Patrick McDonald, Sr; and Thomas McDonald, Sr.
In the late 1950’s the family moved to Dallas where they joined Greater St. James Baptist Church. Charlie Mae taught Sunday School and sang in the choir. She later joined Peaceful Zion Baptist Church in Dallas where she was the president of the choir and president of Phoebe Circle Mission.
As an educator, Charlie Mae worked at many schools in the Dallas Independent School District –Oliver Wendel Holmes Middle School, John B. Hood Middle School, and H. S. Thompson Elementary. Most notably, she was one of the first Black teachers to teach at John B. Hood Middle School during the integration movement in Dallas. She went on to retire from education after 31 years of service to the students in the city of Dallas.
Charlie Mae answered her call to preach shortly after joining Rice Chapel AME Church in Dallas in 1993 where she was ordained to be a Local Elder in the AME church, under her father in the ministry, Rev. William Vaughn, Jr.. In 1996, she went to Joshua Chapel AME Church in Waxahachie, TX where she was on the ministerial staff and taught Bible Study and Sunday School. She was called on to be the Pastor at Johnson Chapel AME Church in Ferris, TX. After her tenure there, she returned to her post on the ministerial staff at Joshua Chapel AME Church. When she became ill, she began attending Four Winds Bible Church Dallas under the leadership of Pastor Calvin Rayford, Sr. with her son, Keith.
In the early 2000s she embarked on a special project that was near and dear to her heart. She recorded the Book of Psalms on CD. Her soothing and distinctive voice reading the Psalms over melodious music ministered to the hearts of all who listened.
In her spare time Reverend McDonald was a Volunteer Chaplain at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas. She highly enjoyed her time ministering to and visiting with the patients in the hospital. It was there that she met other volunteers and they called themselves The Golden Girls.
She is preceded in death by her husband – Hollie L. McDonald, Jr, mother - Fannie Mae Lewis, father - Charlie Jones; son – Gregory McDonald, Sr.; brother – John Henry Jones; and sisters – Betty Lorene Jones and Tracy Lewis.
She leaves to cherish her memory three sons – Keith McDonald, Patrick (Nichelle) McDonald, Sr., and Thomas (Kristie) McDonald, Sr.; step-daughter – Rosalind (Calvin) Rayford; daughters-in-law – Connie McDonald and Mary Ann McDonald; and God-daughter Rev. Janetta Britton. Her nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren will treasure her in their hearts - Akela McDonald; Gregory(Mahogany) McDonald, Jr.; Patrick McDonald, Jr.; Jasmine McDonald; Jeremy McDonald; Teaira Barber; Tamar McDonald; Thomas McDonald, Jr; Calvin Rayford, III; A’Tire Montgomery, Avril McDonald, Gregory McDonald, III; and Grey’Cin McDonald. Her siblings - Sherrie Sweatt, Terry (Eletha) Lewis, Beverly (David) Bluitt, Vincent Paul (Patricia) Lewis, Darrell (Nellie) Lewis – a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends will greatly miss her loving and caring ways.
