Maxine McCaw

Laura Maxine Grubbs McCaw (Maxine or Mackie) peacefully passed away Friday, March 28, 2025, at the age of 87, in Charlotte, NC, a decade plus victim of Alzheimer’s. Funeral arrangements will be facilitated by Wilson Funeral Home, Charlotte, NC.

A joint Celebration of Life Service, along with her husband of 65 years, Larry, who passed away 5 days later, will be held Saturday, April 12, at 3 PM, with a time of visitation with the family at 2 PM, at Drexel First Church of God, Drexel, NC, followed by a brief graveside service at Drexel First Church of God Cemetery.

Maxine was born November 14, 1937, in Lamar, SC, and grew up in Monroe, LA, and all over the southeast US, her father (Rev. J. C. Grubbs) being a pioneer Pastor and church planter in the Church of God, Anderson, IN.

Maxine earned her associate’s degree at Anderson College, Anderson, IN, where she met her husband, Rev. Larry L. McCaw, a life-long Pastor and national, regional and state leader in the Church of God, Anderson, IN.

A woman of career drive during a time few women worked, and beginning in Lake Charles, LA, in the 1960’s, she excelled as a Secretary, and later as an Executive Assistant in the North Carolina furniture industry as well as a high tech manufacturing plant, both in Valdese, NC, and finally an office assistant for her son’s State Farm Insurance Agency in Charlotte, NC, while at the same time raising 3 sons, each a year and a half apart in age, and being grandmother to 6 grandchildren. However, her first love was clearly the unpaid role of serving in the congregation where her husband pastored. She was an exemplary pastor’s spouse, hosting Bible studies and fellowship gatherings, teaching children’s Sunday School, singing in the choir, or filling in on the piano. She was also a baby-whisperer (she had an amazing gift for soothing babies). It seemed she never sat down and always had a project going on.

Maxine was dearly loved by her family, but also by the many congregants and friends in the churches they served, in Lake Charles, LA, Oklahoma City, OK, and Drexel, NC, as well as many other congregations where she supported Larry’s ministry as interim pastor after retirement, the last being First Church of God, Charlotte, NC.

Her passions were music, cooking, playing games, storytelling, and spending time with family. She was uniquely and wonderfully gifted with a beautiful alto voice, and playing the piano. She was not formally trained in music but naturally played the piano mostly by ear. Her musical ability was passed naturally and inspired all 3 of her sons. As a cook, she was quite simply the best there was. Cooking was perhaps her favorite way to show her love to others. You never visited her home without experiencing an excellent meal, or scrumptious desserts. For many years, in all 3 congregations they served, she threw an annual “Christmas Open House” at the Church parsonage. She would begin her baking and freezing a month or more in advance, baking and preparing too many goodies to count. The house was always jam packed for this event, and it was something the congregants and friends, and her sons, looked forward to every year.

Maxine preceded her husband, Rev. Larry L. McCaw, in death, by 5 short days. She was preceded in death by her parents, Rev. J. C. Grubbs and Ruth Reagan Grubbs, and her older sister, Christine Grubbs Maxwell, and husband, Hop, of Baxter, TN, and her older brother, Rev. Dr. Dwight L. Grubbs, and wife still living, Sylvia, of Anderson, IN. Maxine is survived by her 3 sons, Rev. Gregory M. McCaw, Wilmington, NC, Brian K. McCaw and wife Sheree Williams McCaw, Matthews, NC, and Mark A. McCaw and wife, Rev. Beth Smith McCaw, Nashville, TN, as well as her beloved grandchildren and great grandchildren, Shaun McCaw (Fort Mill, SC) and wife, Kaylie, and daughter, Finley; Courtney McCaw (Drexel, NC), and son Elijah; Grace McCaw Wagenman (Nashville, TN), and husband, Jonny, and daughter Emmy Lou, and son, Jack; Lacey McCaw (Lenoir, NC), and fiancé Wesley Shoufler; J. C. McCaw (Lompoc, CA), and wife, Katie; and Kari McCaw (Statesville, NC). Also 3 brothers, George Grubbs (Monroe, LA), and wife Patty; Rev. Dr. Jerry Grubbs (Anderson, IN), and wife Jan; and Rev. Perry Grubbs (Okolona, MS), and wife Sue.

Maxine will be remembered for her endearing love, kindness, and hospitality. She had a keen sense for storytelling with drama, humor, and lots of hand gestures, which she adorably continued until her death, even though in a language none of us could understand due to the effects of Alzheimer’s. Yet, in some mysterious way you could still almost tell what her story was about.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the J. C. and Ruth Grubbs Memorial Scholarship Fund at Anderson University School of Theology. Go to www.Anderson.edu, click “Give” in the top banner, under “Designation”, click “Other”, then type in “J. C. and Ruth Grubbs ESF”, then fill out the rest of the form. In memory of Rev. Larry McCaw and Maxine Grubbs McCaw.

Family and friends are invited to join us for a Celebration of Life on Saturday, April 12, at Drexel First Church of God, 200 Oakland Avenue, Drexel, NC, 28619. 2 PM visitation with the family, 3 PM service, graveside at Drexel First Church of God Cemetery following.